Valdo Calocane: Inquiry hears flatmate headlock and officer assault ahead of Nottingham killings probing
valdo calocane is at the centre of fresh testimony at a public inquiry in London as former flatmates and a police constable give evidence about violent incidents before the Nottingham killings on 13 June 2023. Witnesses described a 2022 headlock on a flatmate and a 2021 assault on an officer, and the inquiry is examining care, monitoring and the response to warning signs. The chairwoman, senior retired judge Deborah Taylor KC, has set out that the inquiry will assess events and actions that led to the attacks.
Valdo Calocane: key incidents laid out in London
Evidence heard in the inquiry places valdo calocane at the centre of two alarming episodes before the fatal stabbings. A former flatmate named Christopher said that in 2022, during a row about cleaning, calocane “came flying across the room” and put Christopher in a headlock “for more than a minute”. Christopher told the inquiry he saw a change in behaviour beginning in late 2021: “There was something off in his character in a way which felt a bit unusual. “
Separately, Police Constable Barnaby Pritchard gave evidence that less than two years before the killings, on 3 September 2021, valdo calocane assaulted officers while being detained by medics. PC Pritchard described the accused as “very calm” on arrival, then suddenly violent: “As soon as I stepped in the room, he began just swinging completely out of the blue. ” The officer said calocane punched, headbutted and swung handcuffs at him, causing swelling to his forehead and bruising to his left cheek. A Taser was deployed twice and Pava spray was used to restrain him.
Witness reactions and inquiry remit
Christopher described the police response to the headlock attack as “dismissive”. Another former flatmate, Sam, witnessed the assault on Christopher and his account has been read into evidence. Thomas, also a former flatmate, said he had been out on the night of the headlock and was confused when he later saw footage: “It did seem kind of out the blue, ” Thomas said. Deborah Taylor KC told the inquiry it will examine the events and actions that culminated in the attacks and will undertake a “thorough, independent assessment” including care and monitoring of the individual.
What next at the inquiry
The inquiry will continue to hear testimony aimed at mapping the sequence of events, the nature of care and monitoring and the official responses to warning signs. Witness lists include former flatmates and emergency responders, and the next witness named in open evidence is Thomas. The inquiry’s remit as set out by Deborah Taylor KC covers a broad range of areas connected with the attacks and aims to produce recommendations to prevent similar incidents.
As the inquiry proceeds in London, valdo calocane remains the subject of detailed scrutiny over episodes in 2021 and 2022 that witnesses say foreshadowed later violence. The public hearing will press officials and witnesses on what was known, what actions were taken and what gaps in care or response might be addressed next.
