Caretaker’s Partner Initially Misled About Valdo Calocane’s Fatal Incident | ITV News
Elaine Newton, the caretaker’s partner, told a public inquiry she was initially misled about how her partner died. She said police first told her he had been in a road traffic accident. The truth was that Valdo Calocane carried out a fatal incident that ended Ian Coates’ life.
Timeline of the attacks
The killings occurred in Nottingham during the early hours of June 13, 2023. Two 19-year-old undergraduates, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, were stabbed first. Mr Coates, 65, was killed just over an hour later.
Confusion and delayed disclosure
Ms Newton said officers spent hours with her but offered little information. She was told repeatedly that the death involved an RTA. It took more than four hours for liaison officers to correct the account and say he had been stabbed.
Emotional impact
She described feeling as if her partner had been killed twice. The first account was accepted, then replaced by a more brutal truth. That sequence intensified her distress and distrust.
Evidence shown at the inquiry
Ms Newton said she had asked not to see the attacker’s face. Despite that request, she was shown footage of Calocane walking in the city that morning. She also learned about his past police incidents only during the inquiry.
Reference to the attacker
At the hearings, the suspect was often named as VC. Calocane had been discharged by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in September 2022. His past contact with services became a central issue for families and investigators.
Concerns about police and NHS handling
Ms Newton criticised communication between police and health services. She said meetings with the now-retired chief constable focused on a WhatsApp group, not on Calocane’s history. She told the inquiry she had lost faith in officials and felt misled.
She pressed police on why Calocane was able to move around the city after the attacks. She was given explanations about limited officer availability. She found those reasons unsatisfactory.
Calls for accountability
Ms Newton wrote to the NHS trust after the killings. She said apologies were insufficient and demanded accountability for care failings. She urged that those responsible should not work in care again.
Legal outcome
Calocane admitted manslaughter of three people in Nottingham. He was given an indefinite hospital order. The case raised questions about risk management and clinical discharge decisions.
Filmogaz.com will continue to follow developments as the inquiry examines failures and recommendations. Families affected by the attacks say they want clearer explanations and meaningful change.
