Nottingham killer to be sentenced for manslaughter

A man in England who stabbed three people to death during a “psychotic episode” last year is due to be sentenced for manslaughter at Nottingham Crown Court later today.

Valdo Calocane pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility for the offences committed in Nottingham in June 2023.

The first two victims were students Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber who were attacked at random while walking home around 4am.

Ms O’Malley-Kumar’s mother Sinéad O’Malley, who is Irish, has spoken of her grief since the attack.

Ms O’Malley has called for mandatory prison sentences for anyone caught carrying a knife.

Calocane could face life imprisonment for the murder of Ms O’Malley-Kumar and Mr Webber followed by the killing of school caretaker of Ian Coates.

His defence lawyer has asked the judge to impose a hospital order rather than a prison sentence as the defendant was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.

Calocane had been detained under the Mental Health Act four times prior to the killings. He was said to have a history of not taking his medication.

However, the prosecution described Calocane’s fatal attacks as “deliberate and merciless”.

Sentencing is expected in Nottingham Crown Court is expected to begin later this morning