The Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is being investigated for corporate manslaughter over its care of Valdo Calocane, who killed three people in June 2023. A public inquiry found multiple failings in his risk assessment, medication management and follow-up after discharge. Northumbria Police is conducting the investigation on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police; the trust says it will cooperate. If convicted, the trust could face an unlimited fine and additional scrutiny of individual accountability.
Nottinghamshire NHS Trust Investigated for Corporate Manslaughter Over Care of Killer Valdo Calocane
Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates were killed by Valdo Calocane on the morning of 13 June 2023 [Supplied]
The Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is the subject of a corporate manslaughter investigation after concerns about its care of Valdo Calocane, who fatally attacked three people in Nottingham in June 2023.
Calocane, now 34, is currently serving an indefinite hospital order [Nottinghamshire Police]
Background
Calocane, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020, was under the trust's care for around two years and was sectioned under the Mental Health Act multiple times. He was discharged in September 2022 after disengaging from services. In June 2023 he attacked and killed Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates; he later pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder and is now subject to an indefinite hospital order in a high-security facility.
The families of Grace and Barnaby welcomed the investigation [PA Media]
The Investigation
Northumbria Police confirmed it is carrying out the probe on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police. The investigation follows evidence to the statutory Nottingham Inquiry — chaired by Her Honour Deborah Taylor — which concluded hearings in May and reported multiple failings in Calocane's care and case management. The trust has said it will cooperate fully with both the police and the statutory inquiry.
Calocane had been sectioned after a number of violent and aggressive incidents before he carried out the fatal attacks in Nottingham [Nottinghamshire Police]
Findings and Concerns
The inquiry and supporting evidence highlighted repeated problems including inadequate risk assessment, poor medication management, and failures in communication and follow-up after Calocane disengaged from services. Staff testimony and internal documents showed wider systemic problems at the trust: the Care Quality Commission had placed the trust under close scrutiny and an internal October 2021 email warned services were "not safe" amid staffing concerns.
"I think this mental health trust failed catastrophically, and from every angle," said Dr Sanjoy Kumar, father of victim Grace O'Malley-Kumar, reflecting families' calls for accountability.
Potential Consequences
If found guilty of corporate manslaughter, the trust could face an unlimited fine; sentencing guidance for very large organisations suggests fines can reach into the tens of millions depending on severity and aggravating factors. The probe may also prompt further scrutiny of individual accountability where appropriate.
Next Steps
The police investigation is ongoing and will run alongside the statutory inquiry, which will hear final submissions later this year. Families and survivors have welcomed the probe as a step toward transparency and systemic change, while the trust has pledged to cooperate fully.
Help us improve.
