S14 Ep3: Valdo Calocane: A preventable tragedy?
Blood Ties Podcast
Peter Shevlin
4.4 • 668 Ratings
🗓️ 6 April 2026
⏱️ 36 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In the early hours of a summer morning, a city that should have been asleep became the scene of something unthinkable.
On 13 June 2023, a series of violent attacks unfolded across Nottingham. What began as a quiet walk home for two students ended in tragedy. Minutes later, a school caretaker setting out for his day was killed, his van stolen and turned into a weapon. By the time it was over, three people had lost their lives and others were left fighting to recover.
At the centre of it all was Valdo Calocane. In court, the case would raise difficult and uncomfortable questions about mental health, responsibility and justice. His eventual plea of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility would divide opinion and leave families searching for answers.
In this episode of Blood Ties, Geoffrey and Molly look beyond the headlines to understand how a single morning can ripple through generations. Because when violence strikes so close to home, the impact does not end at the scene. It lives on in the people, the memories and the ties that bind them.
CREDITS:
Presenters: Geoffrey and Molly Wansell
Producer: Peter Shevlin https://pod60.com/
Artwork: George Leigh
Music: Dan Wansell
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This week on Blood Ties. |
| 0:13.1 | They have the misfortune to encounter Calocaine, who is by this time equipped himself with a knife and a piece of scaffolding, |
| 0:22.9 | just in case he wants to hit somebody over the head. |
| 0:32.7 | He encounters them. |
| 0:34.8 | They're walking back to about 100 yards from their lodgings. |
| 0:38.3 | He attacks Weber, the boy, first. |
| 0:40.3 | Grace O'Malley Kumar, |
| 0:43.3 | ... Grace O'Malley Kumar does everything she can to stop him. |
| 0:54.8 | But it doesn't, and Callow Cain sadly kills Barnaby. |
| 0:59.8 | And then turns on Grace O'Malley Kumar. |
| 1:02.9 | And in the words I think of the judge later, |
| 1:05.7 | an uncompromisingly brutal attack. |
| 1:18.6 | Music brutal attack. Hi, I'm Molly Wansall. And I'm Jeffrey Wuncel. |
| 1:20.6 | We're a father and daughter, as those of you who listened to Blood Ties in the past will remember, |
| 1:24.6 | and we meet every week, and often our conversation has turned to murder, |
| 1:29.0 | which is why we originally launched Blood Ties and why we've now decided to bring it back in its new, |
| 1:35.3 | fresher form. |
| 1:36.2 | We're really excited to be back, and we would love it if you could also check out our Patreon. |
| 1:41.2 | Just search Blood Ties on Patreon. |
| 1:43.2 | Thanks so much. |
| 1:44.0 | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 1:48.5 | Hi everyone. Welcome back to the Blood Ties podcast. I'm Molly Wansel and I'm here with my father, |
... |
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