News
Triple murder suspect remanded after Nottingham knife and van attack
A TRIPLE murder suspect with links to Pembrokeshire, identified as Valdo Calocane, was remanded in custody by magistrates following a series of knife and van attacks that claimed the lives of two students and a school caretaker in Nottingham. The 31-year-old, who previously attended Sir Thomas Picton School, Haverfordwest and the University of Nottingham, appeared before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
Donning a grey T-shirt and grey jogging bottoms, Calocane stood in the dock flanked by three security officers. He is accused of murdering first-year students Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, as well as school caretaker Ian Coates during the early hours of Tuesday.
Additionally, Calocane faces charges of attempted murder in relation to three pedestrians – Wayne Birkett, Marcin Gawronski, and Sharon Miller. The incidents occurred when Mr. Coates’ van was allegedly used to target individuals in Milton Street and Upper Parliament Street.
Throughout the hearing, Calocane remained composed and only spoke to confirm his name as “Adam Mendes,” provide his date of birth, and state that he had no fixed abode. He was not required to enter pleas to the charges.
The lifeless bodies of medical student Ms. O’Malley-Kumar, from Woodford in London, and history student Mr. Webber, from Taunton in Somerset, both 19 years old, were discovered with fatal knife wounds on Ilkeston Road at approximately 4 am. Subsequently, Mr. Coates, 65, was found stabbed to death on Magdala Road after his van was allegedly stolen.
Calocane is accused of using the van to target a pedestrian in Milton Street and two others in South Sherwood Street. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed that two patients are in stable condition, while one has been discharged following the van incidents.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) stated that a marked police car briefly observed the suspect’s vehicle for “less than a minute” before it collided with pedestrians in South Sherwood Street.
Magistrates also heard that Calocane faces a charge of assaulting a police constable stemming from a separate incident in Nottingham in September 2021. The assault charge will be addressed at the same court on June 26.
Relatives of Mr. Webber expressed their “complete devastation” at the “senseless murder of our son,” describing him as a “beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to.” The family of Ms. O’Malley-Kumar remembered her as a “truly wonderful and beautiful young lady” who will be deeply missed.
Reflecting on their loss, two of Mr. Coates’ sons stated that his death had “rocked everyone’s world,” emphasizing that “nobody deserves this but he definitely didn’t.”
Authorities revealed that the suspect is a former student of the University of Nottingham but stated that there is no apparent connection between his past attendance and the attacks.
Chairwoman of the bench of magistrates, Allison Folkett, ordered Calocane to be remanded in custody until his appearance at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday.
The tragic events have shaken the Nottingham community, leaving families and residents mourning the loss of three innocent lives. As the legal process unfolds, the city seeks solace and support for those affected by this harrowing ordeal.
It is understood that the suspect spent his school years in Pembrokeshire and that his currently still lives in Haverfordwest in the former RAF housing.
Entertainment
St Davids Cathedral Music Festival representatives attend Royal Garden Party
SIMON PEARCE, the esteemed Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Davids Cathedral, was honoured to attend a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
The event, celebrating the UK’s Creative and Cultural Industries, featured an array of celebrities, stunning displays of spring gardens, and performances by the Band of The Marines.
Mr Pearce, who attended with his wife Katherine was appointed in 2022 as the Director of Music at the cathedral—a position he has held since 1998 in an assistant capacity—expressed his delight at the opportunity to represent the festival. “Every single moment was to be savoured,” he remarked, noting the “wonderful music, fantastic host of celebs, a sumptuous tea party, stunning gardens and Palace, and glorious British spring weather.”
The St Davids Cathedral Music Festival 2024 will open with a dazzling performance by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales on May 25. The orchestra will treat audiences to Mathias’s Festival Overture and Brahms’ Second Symphony.
Adding to the splendour, award-winning violinist Inmo Yang will grace the stage with his rendition of Sibelius’ Violin Concerto.
This year’s festival will also introduce several new performers. The Choir of Royal Holloway is set to debut on May 27, enchanting attendees with choral arrangements of orchestral classics. Local talent is also in the spotlight, with Pembrokeshire-born horn player Simon Lewis performing alongside Trio Preseli on May 26, showcasing works by Welsh composer Anthony Randall.
Adding a touch of environmental consciousness to the festival, clarinet virtuoso Emma Johnson returns on May 28 with her Orchestra for the Environment.
Their repertoire will include pieces by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Johnson’s own composition, ‘The Tree of Life’.
The festival will kick off with the 150-strong Children’s Festival Chorus on May 24, captivating audiences with their youthful energy and a live band.
Throughout the week, the cathedral musicians will feature prominently in several concerts, with the highlight being the full Cathedral choir performing Choral Evensong live on BBC Radio 3.
This prestigious invitation to Buckingham Palace came just two years after Mr Pearce’s official appointment as the Master of Choristers, a role in which he has pledged to continue enhancing the cathedral’s distinguished musical tradition.
At the time of his appointment, the Very Revd Dr Sarah Rowland Jones, as Dean of St. Davids, praised Mr Pearce’s exceptional talents, saying, “It has been a pleasure to enjoy the excellence of Simon’s playing and conducting over the years.”
Under his leadership, the Cathedral Choir and Choral Foundation have been furthering their well-deserved reputation for excellence. “St Davids Cathedral is a spiritually inspiring and beautiful place in which to make music,” Mr Pearce said, acknowledging the special connections the cathedral maintains with the local community, school, and the wider Pembrokeshire area.
News
Council works to reduce empty properties in Carmarthenshire
CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council is reducing the number of empty properties within the county through the introduction of the Empty Properties Framework.
Combining enforcement, the implementation of council tax premiums on empty properties and providing support to help owners bring empty properties back into use, the Empty Properties Framework aims to:
• Reduce the number of long-term empty homes across the county
• Increase the supply of affordable housing to meet demand
• Tackle issues relating to property nuisance, blight and the impact on communities
The following case study is an example of how Carmarthenshire County Council is supporting communities and owners to bring empty properties back into use.
An empty property was reported to the Council with loose rendering falling onto a neighbouring driveway and refuse/waste material in the garden. Investigations revealed that the property had been recorded as empty for seven years and was privately owned by a limited company.
The property was visited by the Council’s Empty Homes Officers and scored as high risk (Category A), requiring enforcement. The owners responded positively to the notice served and assisted with the Council’s formal inspection of the property, during which various category 1 (the most serious) hazards were identified.
As a result, statutory notices were served on the property. These notices provided varying timeframes for work to be carried out. In the event of non-compliance, the Council may choose to undertake works, recovering all costs from the owner.
The owner complied with the work which posed an imminent risk and then sold the property at public auction. The Improvement Notices remained with the property when sold. Upon purchase, the new owners immediately began work to improve the property and this is progressing well.
Cllr Linda Evans, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes said: “The introduction of the Empty Homes Framework aims to be bold in bringing about the improvement and occupation of empty homes, increasing the supply and use of housing to all.
Carmarthenshire County Council is committed to reducing the number of empty properties in the county, with various methods of support in place to assist owners of these properties to bring them back into use including financial assistance, subject to eligibility.”
From 1st April 2024, council tax premiums were also introduced on properties empty for more than 12 months to encourage owners to reflect on whether they could make better use of their property.
For more information on the support available to owners of empty properties visit the Council’s website – Carmarthenshire.gov.wales/housing
News
Free disability sports event heads to Pembroke Leisure Centre
PEMBROKE Leisure Centre will play host to a free disability sports and physical event later this month with lots of sports and activities to try.
The insport series, in partnership with Disability Sport Wales, Sport Pembrokeshire and Pembrokeshire Leisure is an inclusive sport and physical activity event.
It offers opportunities for disabled young people (ages 5 years+) and adults across Pembrokeshire and friends and family are welcome.
On offer to try are: boxing, boccia, swimming (on a separate first come first serve booking basis), football, wheelchair rugby, target shooting, adaptive bikes, cricket, golf, multisport, and more.
The event takes place Pembroke Leisure Centre, on Wednesday May 29th between 10am-2pm.
Booking for the event and swim places is required.
For more information please contact: Jess West from Sport Pembrokeshire byemail [email protected] or by calling 07795305871.
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