A man has pled guilty to three counts of manslaughter in relation to fatal knife attacks in Nottingham. Ian Coates, aged 65, and 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, were killed by Valdo Calocane, who also admitted to attempted murder concerning three others. Calocane, previously known as Adam Mendes, denied murder, but claimed diminished responsibility. The knife attacks took place on 13 June, with the students fatally stabbed in Ilkeston Road.
Barrister Peter Joyce KC said that Calocane’s plea was entered upon the grounds of diminished responsibility, with the prosecution now to review medical evidence and determine whether to accept the admission. Calocane now awaits sentencing, with the attempted murder charges relating to pedestrians Wayne Birkett, Sharon Miller, and Marcin Gawronski. The latter three were driven at in Milton Street and Upper Parliament Street, located in the city center. Calocane appeared in Nottingham Crown Court for the hearing.
The University of Nottingham students were killed in a separate attack, with Ian Coates found dead with knife injuries in Magdala Road. It had been alleged his van was stolen. The prosecution has agreed to Calocane’s response on the charge of manslaughter, given he did not intend to kill any of the victims.
This heinous crime has rocked the quiet city of Nottingham. The families of the victims will no doubt take some small comfort in the fact that the defendant has admitted guilt in relation to their loved ones’ deaths. Calocane will be held accountable for his crimes, although nothing can bring back those who were killed on that awful day
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