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Nottingham killer will have ‘lenient’ sentence reviewed at Court of Appeal after slaughtering 3 in knife rampage
Move welcomed by victims' families who believe triple killer 'got away with murder'
NOTTINGHAM killer Valdo Calocane will have his sentence reviewed for being "unduly lenient" after he slaughtered three in a rampage.
Calocane was handed an indefinite hospital order after he admitted killing Grace O'Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber, both aged 19, and 65-year-old Ian Coates.
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The Attorney General has now referred his sentence to the Court of Appeal after finding it "unduly lenient".
Victoria Prentis has asked top judges whether the term can be increased so Calocane would face prison if he were released from the high-security prison.
Under the current order, the triple killer could be released if his mental health improves and the Justice Secretary and doctors believe he is no longer a risk to the public.
But no hybrid order was put in place stipulating Calocane would have to go to jail if he is released from the hospital.
Read more on the case
The move was today welcomed by the victims' families, who previously said Calocane had "got away with murder".
In a joint statement, they said: "We were very glad to hear that the Attorney General has agreed with us that the sentencing given to Valdo Calocane, who so viciously and calculatedly killed our loved ones, was wrong.
"We are optimistic that when this reaches the Royal Courts of Justice for its appeal there will be an outcome that provides some of the appropriate justice that we have been calling for.
"It is important to remember that this is just one part of the tragic failures in this case. The investigation into the mental health trust, the CPS and the Nottingham and Leicestershire Police still continue.
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"We maintain that there are serious failures in all three agencies that must be fully addressed."
Prosecutors ruled that Calocane could not be held fully responsible for his actions because of his paranoid schizophrenia.
Valdo Calocane's timeline of terror - How the killer caused havoc on the streets of Nottingham
This meant they accepted his manslaughter by diminished responsibility plea rather than pressing for a murder conviction.
The victims' families led outrage for the decision as they accused the Crown Prosecution Service, police and the NHS of multiple failures.
Nottingham Crown Court heard Calocane had been detained in hospital four times before the killings in June 2023 and had a warrant out for his arrest at the time.
He first stabbed Grace and Barnaby to death as they walked home before attacking caretaker Ian.
Calocane then stole Ian's van and ran over three people during t he gruesome rampage.
How does sentence review work?
ANYONE can ask for someone's Crown Court sentence to be reviewed if they think it is too lenient.
Only very serious offences like murder, manslaughter and rape can be reviewed by the Attorney General's office.
If a request is filed within 28 days of the original sentence, the Attorney General's office will consider whether to send it to the Court of Appeal.
The court will then decide whether or not the sentence is "unduly lenient" and should be bulked up.
But the Court of Appeal may also decide to keep the current sentence or refuse to hear the case.
Ms Prentis said: "Valdo Calocane's crimes were horrific and have shocked a nation. He brutally killed three innocent people, and violently attacked three other victims. Their experiences will stay in our minds for a long time to come.
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"This was a case that evoked strong feelings amongst so many people and it was no surprise that I received so many referrals under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme to consider the Hospital Order handed to Calocane.
"My thoughts remain with all of Calocane's victims, as well as their families and friends, who have shown such immeasurable strength during this devastating time."
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