Woman Injured Escaping Triple Killer Expresses Anger Over No Prosecution
A woman who sustained a broken spine after falling from a window while attempting to escape triple killer Valdo Calocane has expressed her frustration at an inquiry upon learning that he could not be prosecuted at the time due to mental health issues.
Valdo Calocane broke into the woman’s flat in 2020, three years prior to the fatal attacks in Nottingham on 13 June 2023, where he killed Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates, and injured three others.
The woman, who required spinal surgery, recounted that a police officer informed her Calocane could not be prosecuted then because of his mental health condition.
During the inquiry, the same officer told her that if she had not escaped, Calocane "could have killed" her.
The Nottingham Inquiry, chaired by retired judge Deborah Taylor, has been hearing testimonies from numerous witnesses regarding the events leading up to the attacks.
More than 100 witnesses, including police officers, NHS staff, and former flatmates, are scheduled to provide evidence over a nine-week period.
Calocane was a University of Nottingham student when he experienced his first psychotic episode in May 2020, the inquiry has revealed.
Break-in Incident in May 2020
On the night of 24 May 2020, Calocane broke into a woman’s flat in Brook Court, Radford, Nottingham.
The 22-year-old woman, who testified anonymously with the assistance of an Italian interpreter, said she had moved from Italy to Nottingham in January 2020 and was employed as a cleaner at the time.
She described returning home from work at 8:00 pm BST and showering when she heard persistent knocking at her door.
"I saw that this knocking was becoming louder and louder with kicks so I asked who it is," she said.
"The person replied 'it's me, open, open'.
"At first this was said quietly but then it became louder and the person on the other side asked, insisted on asking, to open the door and that's when I panicked."
Before she could look through the spyhole, the door began to shake.
"I could see the door was shaking, I could feel it was coming off," she said.
She put on her pyjamas and leaned out of the window to call for help, but due to the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown, no one was outside.
"I thought that someone wanted to hurt me. I didn't know what to do. I was by myself. I was alone. I felt like someone was going to hurt me.
"First, I was holding on to the window and I tried to jump when I slipped and fell on to the ground. I was scared, I was very scared," she said.
The woman suffered serious back injuries from a fall estimated between 10 and 12 feet and was initially unable to speak or move.
When Calocane was brought into the complex courtyard by police, he attempted to approach her.
"He was looking at me with his eyes wide open and he tried to come to me but the officers had pinned him down," she recalled.
Recalling her hospital statement, she said:
"I was very worried. I was angry.
"Also I thought what was going to happen with the person who had tried to attack me, how was this going to end?"
After surgery and hospital discharge, a police officer visited her and informed her Calocane could not be prosecuted.
"They said they tried doing anything they could but because of his mental health problem - they mentioned schizophrenia - this person could not be jailed and he was therefore taken to a mental health institution.
"I was very angry, I was very upset because the damage he had caused is going to be forever, and I was so young, and I thought this was not enough.
"The psychiatric hospital was not enough but because there were no other possibilities, I accepted it," she said.
At that time, Calocane had not received a formal mental health diagnosis. He was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia before committing the fatal attacks.
Police Evidence and Mental Health Assessment
On Thursday, PC Richard Marsden of Nottinghamshire Police gave evidence about the incident involving the woman’s fall from the window.
Marsden explained that he sought professional advice regarding Calocane’s mental capacity from Dr Faizal Seedat at Highbury Hospital, where Calocane had been detained.
The inquiry heard that following an email from Dr Seedat stating Calocane had no recollection of events prior to admission and was "not in touch with reality" at that time, the police decided they were "unable to progress" the case.
The woman, who had only recently moved to England, was not informed that she could challenge this decision.
Marsden commented that generally people "are familiar with complaints and things like that."
Policy and Missed Opportunities
The inquiry also revealed that according to Nottinghamshire Police policy, cases involving suspects with potential mental health disorders should be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) when considering charges.
However, this referral did not occur in this case.
The force’s policy also stated that doctors’ notes should be regarded as "opinion."
Based on Dr Seedat’s assessment, Marsden and his sergeant chose not to interview Calocane.
The inquiry further heard that Calocane had attempted to force entry into another flat in the same complex earlier that day, believing his mother was inside.
None of the officers involved in either incident connected the two events at the time, though Marsden acknowledged at the inquiry that they "should have" been linked.
Calocane was arrested after the first incident but was released back to Brook Court the same day.
Custody notes revealed Calocane’s behaviour included talking about "seeing the devil."
No further action was taken regarding the early hours incident.
Insp Katie Eustace of Nottinghamshire Police admitted the incident was not "given the attention it deserved."
Neighbour’s Account of Threatening Behaviour
A former neighbour of Calocane, identified as Liam in the inquiry, testified that Calocane had knocked on his door multiple times.
On one occasion, Calocane told Liam he was trying to help him because Liam had "upset a gang and now they were after [him]."
Liam also reported that in 2022, Calocane threatened to rape his partner, but they chose not to involve the police.
Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.
