Nottingham attacks NHS trust faces manslaughter investigation

The mother of one of the Nottingham attack victims has welcomed a corporate manslaughter investigation into the mental healthcare trust that treated triple killer Valdo Calocane, calling it the "beginning of the reckoning".

Northumbria Police is looking at matters relating to the care and treatment of paranoid schizophrenic Calocane by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT).

Calocane, who was under the care of NHFT from 2020 until 2022, had a rucksack of weapons when he killed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, in Nottingham in the early hours of 13 June 2023.

He then attempted to murder three pedestrians in Nottingham city centre, leaving them seriously injured.

Calocane was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and attempted murder.

He was sectioned four times while under the care of NHFT, before he was discharged to his GP.

A public inquiry heard he was discharged by the trust's Early Intervention in Psychosis service because he failed to turn up for appointments and the team had "lost" him.

'Those involved must show full candour and transparency'

Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby, said the trust must be "fully held to account" and it was an "unprecedented move that will send much-needed shockwaves across our public services".

She added: "This has to be the line in the sand - when those who fail, neglect and cover up, from the leaders at the top down, are fully held to account and made to recognise their failures.

"This includes chief executives, chairmen of the board, non-executive and executive board members, as well as the negligent clinicians, practitioners and hospital managers who over a sustained period failed to manage and recognise the threat posed by Valdo Calocane.

"They chose to allow him to dictate what was happening, and therefore failed to treat a man who refused treatment, allowing him to go on to commit the murder and take the lives of three innocent souls.

"This statement today brings us no joy, but it does signify the beginning of the reckoning - in Barney's memory, in Grace's memory and in Ian's memory, and for the protection of those in the future who could face another Valdo Calocane.

"We now ask that, for the first time, all of those involved who will be required to participate do so with full candour and transparency."

'Our thoughts are with the victims'

In a statement, NHFT said it would be "co-operating fully" with the police investigation.

A spokesman added: "We know how important the independent inquiry and police investigation are for the affected families, the survivors and our local communities.

"We will, of course, be co-operating fully with Northumbria Police, as we have with the statutory inquiry into these matters which is being chaired by Her Honour Deborah Taylor, and which will hear final submissions from all the parties involved later this year."

A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: "Our thoughts are very much with the victims, their families and all those impacted by the tragic events in Nottingham in June 2023.

"We can confirm we are subsequently carrying out an investigation on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police.

"We are in contact with the victims' families and survivors and are committed to supporting them throughout this process.

"It would not be appropriate for us to comment any further."

(c) Sky News 2026: Nottingham attacks NHS trust faces manslaughter investigation