Nottingham triple killer 'assaulted husband and wife weeks before attacks'

A public inquiry has revealed troubling details about Valdo Calocane, who carried out a series of deadly attacks in Nottingham on 13 June 2023. Several weeks before fatally stabbing three individuals—Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both aged 19, and 65-year-old Ian Coates—Calocane had violently assaulted two colleagues at a warehouse in Kegworth, Leicestershire. Despite this earlier incident, police follow-up with victims and witnesses was minimal and delayed, raising questions about the handling of the case prior to the tragic events.

According to the inquiry, on 5 May 2023, Calocane, who had started working at the warehouse just days earlier through an agency, attacked a married couple who were his coworkers. The husband reported being punched from behind after asking Calocane to wait during a task and described Calocane’s unusual, intense demeanor. The assault escalated with Calocane kicking the wife and pushing her forcefully, causing her to fall on top of her husband. Warehouse staff attempted to intervene during the attack. Louisa, a training coordinator, stood between Calocane and the victims but noted that Calocane did not speak and appeared detached, pacing back and forth seemingly unaware of their presence.

Despite the severity of the assault, police did not visit the victims or witnesses until weeks later. Police records indicated that by 2 June, no in-person questioning had occurred, and only a follow-up email was sent three days before Calocane’s killings, asking the victims and others to respond. Warehouse management had submitted a witness list and offered to coordinate with police but reported no response. Staff members believed the company was managing the incident internally, which may have contributed to the lack of prompt action by authorities.

The inquiry also highlighted Calocane’s troubled history with mental health and previous violent incidents. He had been sectioned multiple times under the Mental Health Act since 2020 and had assaulted former housemates, stalked a flatmate, and broken into neighbors’ apartments. On the day of the attacks in Nottingham, a hostel worker named Ivan encountered Calocane trying to open a window at Seely Hirst House, a 52-room hostel. Ivan, suspecting Calocane was a homeless person seeking shelter, engaged with him but did not contact the police. Shortly afterward, Calocane killed Barnaby and Grace at another location, followed by Ian Coates, before driving his van into the city center and injuring several pedestrians. The inquiry continues to examine how Calocane’s prior behavior was managed and whether better intervention could have prevented the tragedy

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