Valdo Calocane, convicted of fatally stabbing three individuals and injuring pedestrians in Nottingham, will not have his sentence changed as the Court of Appeal deems the indefinite hospital order appropriate given his paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis.
Valdo Calocane, 32, will not see a change to his sentence after the Court of Appeal ruled that his indefinite hospital order was appropriate, given his diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Calocane had fatally stabbed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates in Nottingham in June of the previous year. Following these attacks, he used a stolen van to injure three pedestrians.
The sentencing, determined by Nottingham Crown Court in January, was revisited after the Attorney General referred it to the Court of Appeal in February, questioning if it was unduly lenient. Despite arguments for a “hybrid” order, which would involve prison time post-treatment, the court maintained the hospital order based on extensive medical testimony about Calocane’s mental health condition.
Victims’ families have expressed significant disappointment with the ruling, citing concerns about the criminal justice system and calling for public inquiries into the handling of Calocane’s case. The families argue for a stricter sentence due to the premeditated nature of Calocane’s actions despite his mental health issues.
The decision confirmed that Calocane, if ever deemed fit to be discharged from the hospital, would still require approval from the Justice Secretary due to the severity of his crimes. The ruling underscores the court’s reliance on psychiatric evaluations and the legal standards guiding sentences in cases involving severe mental health issues.
