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Psychiatrist Ignored Crucial Evidence in Triple Killer Case
31 Mar
Summary
- Psychiatrist missed key footage before assessing triple killer Valdo Calocane.
- Inquiry heard crucial video and audio evidence was not reviewed.
- Calocane's responsibility for offenses was deemed 'lower end' by one expert.
An inquiry into the case of triple killer Valdo Calocane heard that a key forensic psychiatrist had not reviewed essential video and audio evidence before making his assessment. Professor Nigel Blackwood, who recommended a hospital order for Calocane, admitted he had not seen footage from earlier incidents, including one involving MI5 and an assault on a police officer.
Calocane fatally stabbed Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates in June 2023. During his assessment, Professor Blackwood described Calocane as a 'complicated man to assess' and stated his responsibility for the offenses was at the 'lower end of the spectrum' due to his mental illness.
Further details revealed that footage of an assault on a police officer, which Calocane described as a headbutt, actually showed him intentionally targeting the male officer. Professor Blackwood acknowledged that seeing this footage could have been helpful in assessing Calocane's state and capability to choose his targets, even while experiencing psychosis.
