UK Attorney General to Review 'Lenient' Sentencing of Schizophrenic Triple Murderer

In an unprecedented move, UK Attorney General Victoria Prentis is set to review the sentencing of Valdo Calocane, a man with paranoid schizophrenia who committed a gruesome triple murder, including the killing of Indian-origin teenager Grace O’Malley-Kumar, in Nottingham last year. Calocane, a dual Guinea-Bissau-Portuguese national, was handed a hospital order sentence under the UK's Mental Health Act after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter with diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder. Questions have been raised about the leniency of his sentence, as he was originally charged with three counts of murder.

The victims' families have expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the case by the Crown Prosecution Service, and concerns have been raised about the communication with the victims' families and the overall management of the case. Despite the current confinement of Calocane in a high-security hospital, the presiding judge has deemed him to be a continued threat. A request for Calocane's sentence to be considered under the unduly lenient sentence scheme has been received, and the law officers will consider the case and decide whether the sentence can be referred to the Court of Appeal.

The outcome of the review has the potential to significantly impact the legal treatment of individuals with mental health issues who commit violent crimes in the future. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has committed to extracting any necessary lessons from this case, highlighting the importance of addressing the complexities of cases involving individuals with mental health issues who pose a threat to the public.