Outcry as triple murderer entitled to welfare payments while held in secure hospital

Outrage has ignited as Valdo Calocane, the perpetrator behind the tragic killings of 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, alongside school caretaker Ian Coates in Nottingham, is revealed to be eligible for thousands of pounds in state benefits while being detained in a secure hospital.

Despite the gravity of his crimes, Calocane, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, falls under the category of patients in secure psychiatric hospitals, thus rendering him eligible for welfare payments of up to £360 a month.

 This revelation has sparked fury, particularly among the families of the victims, who express profound grief compounded by a sense of injustice.

Barnaby’s mother, Emma, expressed profound dismay, stating, “This is truly devastating to hear and it adds yet more layers of grief and a sense of injustice to those of us left behind.”

She further lamented the apparent disparity in treatment, highlighting the financial support afforded to Calocane despite the immeasurable loss inflicted upon the victims’ families.

While acknowledging the existing legal framework, Emma and other affected individuals passionately advocate for a review of the legislation, firmly asserting that the current state of affairs is fundamentally flawed and demands urgent rectification.

Their impassioned plea echoes a broader sentiment of dissatisfaction with a system that appears to prioritize the rights of perpetrators over the well-being of victims and their families.