Inquiry shown CCTV of triple killer kicking officer

The inquiry into the Nottingham attacks has seen footage of the killer Valdo Calocane lashing out at a police officer as he was brought into custody.

Calocane stabbed Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates to death before trying to kill three others on 13 June 2023.

CCTV showed him being brought out of a police van and appearing calm before suddenly kicking a female officer, who moves away in obvious pain.

The hearing also heard questions about how senior police handled the immediate aftermath of the stabbings and vehicle ramming attacks.

Retired senior judge Deborah Taylor KC is chairing the inquiry, which is hearing from more than 100 witnesses over a total of nine weeks.

The footage showed that after striking the officer, Calocane was restrained on the floor.

Asked about the assault at the custody suite, Ch Insp Lisa Murray, of Nottinghamshire Police, told the inquiry: "I think from the extent of [the officer's] response and reaction, it came as a shock and certainly I think she goes on to describe that in her statement.

"So it wasn't anticipated."

Further footage showed Calocane at the custody booking desk and, when addressed by the sergeant, he replied with an expletive.

He repeated the abuse when it was explained the sergeant was only concerned with his care.

In custody, when asked whether he experienced hallucinations or voices, Calocane said "I do not want to discuss that with you", the inquiry heard.

Murray told the inquiry that Calocane refused to have medical samples taken from him and only responded to certain questions from police.

She said: "Some information that he was asked about himself, and that wasn't necessarily about the offending, he seemed to be more comfortable answering.

"But there was certainly a lack of answer and engagement when it was evidential material that was put to him."

Earlier the inquiry was shown office footage of force incident manager, Ch Insp David Mather, being updated on the situation at about 07:00 BST, three hours after the killings began.

On being told there were two fatalities, Mather said "it's not as bad as I thought", to which another officer beside him said "it's pretty bad, mate".

Sophie Cartwright KC, representing some of the victims, suggested Mather had "no situational awareness" as he did not issue updated briefings about the level of threat as the nature of the attacks became clear and some information about the location of attacks and numbers of victims was missing from other updates.

Giving evidence Supt Simon Allardice rejected much of this but conceded there was opportunity for a fuller briefing after Calocane was arrested but a high alert level was still in force.

Representing the bereaved families, Tim Moloney KC also suggested there should have been better coordination with CCTV operators to track Calocane immediately after the first stabbing.

He said there was "no inspired detection" and if Calcocane had tried to flee instead of continue attacks, he could have been "long gone".

"Sorry to press you on this superintendent but you would have expected a call to be made," he said.

"These were two brutal killings with a brutal killer on the loose, are you not doing everything in your power to try and catch this man?

"Aren't you just saying to the CCTV [operators] 'Look, serious update, we need to scour the streets for this man',"

Allardice said he would have expected CCTV operators to keep police briefed but there should have been a check-up call to make sure this was happening.

"I agree, absolutely. That's why I said in my answer a minute ago, that call should have been made," he said.