Doctor warned attacker he would end up killing someone

Three years prior to a series of violent incidents in Nottingham, a psychiatrist cautioned Valdo Calocane that he “would eventually take someone’s life,” according to testimony presented at an inquiry. Calocane, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, stabbed three individuals to death on 13 June 2023, including 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, before attacking others. The Nottingham Inquiry revealed that Dr. Faizal Seedat, a consultant psychiatrist from Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, made the warning during a psychiatric admission in July 2020, though Calocane did not believe it at the time.

Inquiry Details

Seedat, who was Calocane’s consultant during two hospital visits in 2020, described the remark as part of a “honest dialogue” about the man’s mental health. The comment was noted in a ward review on 16 July 2020, stating: “Dr. Seedat noted there appears to be no awareness or regret, and the risk is that this could recur, potentially leading to a fatal outcome.” During the session, Seedat emphasized that the threat was not intentional, but a projection of possible consequences if Calocane continued his behavior.

“VC wasn’t showing any remorse or understanding of his actions,” Seedat explained. “I aimed to provoke a reaction or make the danger clear. I believed the worst-case scenario would be unintended, but the outcome could be severe.”

Text Message Context

Calocane’s mother, Celeste, provided Seedat with a set of text exchanges between Valdo and his brother Elias from early 2020. One message referenced “red rum,” a phrase Calocane later described as a thought about violence. Seedat, unaware of its connection to murder, assumed it had a spiritual meaning. He admitted not questioning the term at the time, as he felt it was best interpreted through a religious lens.

“I didn’t realize ‘red rum’ referred to killing,” Seedat said. “I thought it might relate to faith. That’s something I should have clarified.”

Post-Admission Communication

After Calocane was discharged in June 2020, Seedat continued to receive messages from him. In November 2020, he informed Calocane he was no longer part of his care team and directed him to his new providers. Later, in August 2021, Calocane visited Highbury Hospital but was met by other staff members. During a third admission, Seedat was unavailable to speak with him and was told his involvement was not mandatory.

“I felt my conversation wouldn’t affect him if he hadn’t been listening,” Seedat stated. “I had my own duties, and I didn’t see how my absence would change anything.”

Professional Reflection

Rachel Langdale KC, the inquiry’s counsel, highlighted Seedat’s awareness of Calocane’s potential for violence. Seedat acknowledged he could have shared the messages during team meetings, saying, “In hindsight, I should have included them.” The testimony underscores the challenges of predicting harmful behavior in patients with severe mental illness.