Nottingham inquiry to examine why police didn't carry out toxicology tests on killer

Telegraph

22-05-2025

The Nottingham inquiry will examine why toxicology samples were not taken from the attacker in the immediate aftermath of the killings, the Government has said.
Valdo Calocane killed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, before attempting to kill three other people in the city in June 2023.
Calocane, 33, was originally charged with murder, but this was downgraded to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility because of his paranoid schizophrenia.
He was given an indefinite hospital order last year, but the families of the victims have repeatedly raised concerns over the fact he was not tested for drugs in the aftermath of the attack.
The Telegraph previously revealed that, the night before the killings, Calocane travelled to London and attended a barbecue with a violent, cannabis-using gangster.
The next day he boarded a train back to Nottingham, dressed all in black and armed with a double-edged dagger, before launching his murderous assault in the early hours of June 13.
After being arrested, Calocane refused to allow officers to take any blood or urine samples, and police did not take a sample of his hair for testing.
Announcing the terms of reference for the public inquiry on Thursday, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that it would be looking at how Calocane was dealt with while in custody.
It said it will review 'any assessment of medical and mental health issues and drug testing, and provision of appropriate medical support'. It will also look at the forensic strategy used by Nottinghamshire Police, such as the lack of toxicology and decisions made with regards to taking samples.
During Calocane's sentencing hearing, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, Grace's father, questioned why no toxicology tests had been carried out in the immediate aftermath of the killings.
Psychiatrists insisted there was no suggestion that substance misuse had played a role in Calocane's declining mental health.
The inquiry aims to report back within two years with recommendations to prevent similar incidents.
Witnesses from Nottinghamshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) could also be compelled to give evidence.
The inquiry will look at the acceptance of Calocane's diminished responsibility plea, and whether enough information was obtained prior to making that decision.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct previously concluded that officers failed to properly investigate an assault on warehouse workers by Calocane, which could have stopped his murders a month later.
The Ministry of Justice said the management of Calocane's risk to others in the lead-up to the attacks and public servants' accessing of information without authorisation will also form part of the inquiry.
The victims' families previously said claims that healthcare staff illegally accessed medical records belonging to their loved ones were 'sickening' and 'inexcusable'.
Three Nottinghamshire Police officers faced disciplinary action for viewing material about the case without any legitimate reason. There have also been alleged data breaches by staff working for HM Prison and Probation Service and HM Courts and Tribunals Service.
Emergency services staff who responded to the attacks will also be scrutinised by the inquiry as part of a 'detailed examination' of events on the day of the killings.
Senior retired judge Deborah Taylor, who jailed Boris Becker, the former tennis star, after he avoided paying his debts, will chair the inquiry.
Shabana Mahmood, the Lord Chancellor, said: 'The bereaved families and survivors of the Nottingham attacks, who have suffered so much, deserve to know how these horrific incidents were able to happen.
'I am pleased this inquiry is now under way, and I know her honour Deborah Taylor will undertake a fearless and thorough examination of the facts to prevent tragedies like this happening again.'
The announcement comes as the victims' families said they have made plans to return to Nottingham to mark the second anniversary of the attacks.
Barnaby's mother, Emma Webber, said she had approached both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham city council, but had not yet received a response in how they could support marking the anniversary.
She said: 'The people of Nottingham continue to shower us with their love, empathy and support, something that the leaders of the city fail to do. Given that it is less than two weeks until the 13th, we have decided that we will, as united families, travel to the two terrible locations where the vicious attacks were carried out.
'Whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, we will ensure justice is served, and all of those who failed will be held fully to account.'