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A man who killed three people in Nottingham will have his sentence reviewed by judges after the attorney general said it was unduly lenient.
Valdo Calocane stabbed to death Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates in Nottingham last June.
He admitted manslaughter and was given a hospital order after the 32-year-old was found to be suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time.
The sentence will be referred to the Court of Appeal.
The families of students Mr Webber and Ms O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and school caretaker Mr Coates, 65, said they were glad that the attorney general agreed Calocane’s sentence was “wrong”.
Calocane also admitted the attempted murder of three others, who were struck by a van – which had been stolen from Mr Coates – in the city centre.
The Attorney General, Victoria Prentis KC MP, said the case “shocked a nation”, so it was “no surprise” she received a number of referrals under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.
She added: “Having received detailed legal advice and considered the issues raised very carefully, I have concluded that the sentence imposed against Calocane, for the offences of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and attempted murder, was unduly lenient and will be referred to the Court of Appeal.
“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.”
Members of the victims’ families met the attorney general for a private meeting on Tuesday.
They said: “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.
“We maintain there are serious failures in all three agencies that must be fully addressed.”
The Court of Appeal may decide to keep the sentence as it is, increase it, or refuse the attorney general’s application.
The case has prompted a series of reviews into the NHS, police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), with the families of the three victims calling for a public inquiry.
Meanwhile, an inspection into the CPS’s involvement has been widened after requests were made by the families, said His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Inspectorate (HMCPSI), which is carrying out the review.
The scope of the inspection will now look at any interaction Calocane had with the CPS, not just matters related to events on day of the attack.
The HMCPSI will also investigate the prosecutions’ decision to accept a manslaughter plea, and whether the CPS met its duties to consult with families ahead of accepting pleas.
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