The mother of triple killer Valdo Calocane has told an inquiry she believed he posed a risk to others due to his mental health years before he fatally stabbed three people in Nottingham.
Celeste Calocane, who gave birth to her eldest son at age 16, testified on Thursday about the events leading up to the June 2023 attacks. She stated she wanted him to receive hospital treatment for his psychosis as early as May 2020, three years before he killed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, and attempted to murder three pedestrians with a van.
First Arrest and Concerns
Calocane was first arrested in May 2020 for damaging a neighbor's door. Upon learning of his arrest, Mrs. Calocane expressed disbelief, saying it was out of character for her son. The inquiry heard that around this time, Calocane had called relatives sounding agitated and crying. Notes from the period indicate Mrs. Calocane wanted him taken to hospital and considered him a risk to others.
Counsel to the inquiry Rachel Langdale KC asked if she recognized his mental state as a risk. Mrs. Calocane replied, “Yes definitely, I wanted him to go to hospital. I did not understand the extent of the risk, but I wanted it.”
Release and Subsequent Incidents
Calocane was released from custody on May 24, 2020, but later that day kicked a woman's door, causing her to jump from a window and sustain serious spinal injuries. He was admitted to Highbury Hospital the following day. His mother, who worked in intensive care during the pandemic, became tearful describing how she had to maintain a brave face during that period.
During his hospitalization, Calocane would call her, wanting to hear relatives' voices. She said, “If we stopped talking, he’d ask us to keep talking. I just thought at that time, with everything going on, he was feeling lonely. In hindsight, I think it was an attempt to hear something other than the voices in his head.”
Family Communications and Red Flags
The inquiry heard that Calocane's younger brother, Elias, created a journal of messages between him and the killer to give to doctors. Mrs. Calocane said she did not see these messages, which included references to “red rum” (murder spelled backwards) and a desire to “hurt permanently.” She believed her son was protecting her by not sharing them, as she was going through a hard time herself.
Earlier testimony revealed Elias thought the violent messages were related to suicidal thoughts, not harming others. Mrs. Calocane noted that her son's frequent “I love you” messages to family were out of character. The inquiry also heard that Calocane's paternal grandfather had unspecified mental health issues, and the family was actively considering factors relevant to his psychosis.
Previous Hospitalizations
Calocane had been detained in hospital for mental health issues four times before the fatal attacks in June 2023. The inquiry continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
