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9 months ago
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Nottingham 'knife rampage killer' Valdo Calocane has denied murdering three people in stabbing spree which shocked Britain.
The 31-year-old is accused of killing three people and attempting to murder three others during an alleged attack in June.
Today, he denied murdering 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates, instead pleading guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.
The defendant is also accused of attempting to murder three pedestrians - Wayne Birkett, Marcin Gawronski and Sharon Miller - after a van drove towards them.
Calocane was flanked by security officers as he attended the court this morning, answered to the name of 'Adam Mendes'.
Valdo Calocane (pictured left) is accused of killing University of Nottingham students Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber and school caretaker Ian Coates
Medical student Grace O'Malley-Kumar, 19, (pictured) was found fatally knifed on Ilkeston Road at around 4am
Nineteen-year-old history student Barnaby Webber (pictured), a friend of Grace, was also found fatally stabbed
Ian Coates, 65, was also killed, and his van was used to drive at people in Milton Street and South Sherwood Street
He pleaded guilty to the attempted murders of Sharon Miller, Marcin Gawronski and Wayne Birkett. Prosecutor Karim Khalil KC told the hearing the crown would need time to consider whether or not the pleas are acceptable or not.
Peter Joyce KC, defending, said to the judge: 'You know what the issues are and the world should know this: The defendant does not dispute the physical acts of any of the prosecution's case. Though he committed these dreadful acts, he did this while he was suffering from extreme mental illness.'
Medical student Ms O'Malley-Kumar and history student Mr Webber were found fatally knifed in Ilkeston Road at around 4am on June 13.
Mr Coates, 65, was then found stabbed to death in Magdala Road after his van was allegedly stolen.
Calocane is alleged to have used the van to drive at a pedestrian in Milton Street and a further two people in South Sherwood Street.
Police were called at 5.30am to the incident, which reportedly took place outside the Theatre Royal.
The defendant, of no fixed address, was later arrested on suspicion of murder outside a shop in Bentinck Road, Forest Fields.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the driver of a marked police car had sight of the vehicle for 'less than a minute' before it collided with the pedestrians in South Sherwood Street.
The defendant spoke only to confirm his name as 'Adam Mendes', his date of birth and that he was of no fixed abode
The family of Mr Webber described their 'complete devastation' at the 'senseless murder of our son', saying he was a 'beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to'.
Ms O'Malley-Kumar's family described her as a 'truly wonderful and beautiful young lady' and that she would be 'so dearly missed'.
Two of Mr Coates' sons said his death had 'rocked everyone's world', adding: 'Nobody deserves this but he definitely didn't.'
Police revealed the suspect is a former University of Nottingham student, but said 'this is not believed to be connected with the attack'.
The case against Calocane has been adjourned until January 16, 2024.
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