Valdo Calocane’s family recently revealed that a doctor had warned years before the Nottingham stabbings that his mental illness was severe enough to potentially lead to violence. Calocane was sentenced to indefinite detention in a high-security hospital after fatally stabbing three people and injuring three others in Nottingham in June 2023.
His family shared a 300-page summary of his medical notes with BBC’s Panorama, criticizing the missed opportunities they believe could have prevented the tragic killings. They expressed their disappointment in the NHS for failing to provide adequate care for Calocane.
The victims’ families have reportedly complained about the Panorama programme, stating that they were not involved in its creation. They demanded a disclaimer be added to clarify that the programme was made without their knowledge or consent.
Calocane, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020, had a history of violent behavior and was sectioned multiple times in a span of two years. After a psychiatrist warned in a medical meeting that there was a risk of him killing someone again, his family believes that proper treatment and intervention could have prevented the tragedy.
His brother and mother, Elias and Celeste Calocane, spoke out for the first time, describing the mental health system as “broken” and calling for a public inquiry and an overhaul of mental health services. They expressed their frustration with the lack of a comprehensive treatment plan for Calocane.
Calocane’s medical notes revealed that he had falsely claimed to no longer hear voices in order to be discharged from the hospital, and that he was discharged to his GP on the same day an arrest warrant was issued for him over the assault of a police officer.
Nottinghamshire healthcare NHS trust stated that they are committed to preventing similar tragedies in the future. The Care Quality Commission is set to release a report on Calocane’s care, shedding light on the shortcomings in his treatment.
The BBC will air a programme titled “The Nottingham Attacks – A Search for Answers” on Monday at 8pm, providing further insight into the events leading up to the tragic stabbings and the potential missed opportunities for intervention. The families of the victims and Calocane continue to seek justice and accountability in the aftermath of the devastating incident.
