A MANSLAUGHTER plea has been accepted from the man who attacked and killed former Taunton School student Barnaby Webber and two other people. Valdo Calocane appeared in Nottingham Crown Court today, Tuesday January 23, after admitting the killings but denying murder.
Prosecutor, Karim Khalil KC, said the families of all three victims were consulted before the decision and accepted the pleas.
In November, Calocane admitted manslaughter but denied murder on the grounds of mental illness.
He also admitted to a separate charge of attempting to murder three pedestrians on the same morning, who were hit by Calocane in a stolen van. A sentencing hearing is now being held for the 32-year-old which is expected to end on Thursday.
In the early hours of June 13, 2023, Barnaby, 19, along with fellow Nottingham University student, Grace O’Malley Kumar, 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, were stabbed and killed by Calocane.
Mr Webber and Ms O’Malley Kumar were walking home from a night out when they were attacked at around 4 am.
Mr Coates was found dead shortly after with stab wounds, after his van had been stolen by Calocane.