The Court of Appeal is set to consider the Attorney General’s bid to alter the sentence of Valdo Calocane, who was given an indefinite hospital order for manslaughter and attempted murder. Calocane’s case has drawn attention due to its complex legal and medical aspects.
Background
Valdo Calocane, a 32-year-old man, was convicted of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in the deaths of Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates. He also attempted to murder three others in Nottingham last June. Prosecutors accepted his pleas in January after medical evidence revealed that he suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.
Attorney General Victoria Prentis referred Calocane’s sentence to the Court of Appeal in February, arguing that it was “unduly lenient.”
The Crimes
Calocane fatally stabbed 19-year-old university students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar as they walked home. He then killed Ian Coates and stole his van. Calocane used the stolen vehicle to deliberately run down pedestrians Wayne Birkett, Marcin Gawronski, and Sharon Miller in Nottingham city centre before being apprehended.
The Sentencing
Mr. Justice Turner, the sentencing judge at Nottingham’s crown court, described Calocane’s crimes as “sickening” and indicated that he would likely be detained indefinitely in a high-security hospital, “very probably for the rest of your life.” The judge also imposed further restrictions on Calocane, which would require approval from the Justice Secretary or a Mental Health Tribunal if he were ever discharged from the hospital.
The AGO’s Argument
Barristers from the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) are expected to argue for a “hybrid” order for Calocane. This order would involve treating him in a hospital setting before transferring him to a regular prison to serve the remainder of his sentence. If the judges agree, they will determine the length of time Calocane must serve for his offences, with the Parole Board overseeing his eventual release.
Victims’ Families Speak Out
The families of the victims have criticised Calocane’s sentence. Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber, expressed her frustration in January, saying, “True justice has not been served.” She added that they had expected the charges to be for murder, not manslaughter. While acknowledging Calocane’s mental illness, she emphasised the premeditated nature of the attacks and the severity of the crimes.
Court Proceedings
The hearing before Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, Lord Justice Edis, and Mr Justice Garnham is scheduled to begin at 10:30am on Wednesday at the Royal Courts of Justice. The court’s decision will have significant implications for both the legal system and mental health considerations in criminal cases.
