THE Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) approach to the Nottingham stabbing case has come under scrutiny as Attorney General Victoria Prentis orders an independent review, following assurances from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to the victims’ families that they will receive the answers they seek.

The focus of the investigation, announced on Tuesday, is the CPS’s acceptance of Valdo Calocane’s guilty pleas to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. Calocane, 32, was responsible for the fatal stabbings of students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates in Nottingham on June 13 last year. The review will also assess whether the CPS adequately consulted the victims’ families during the process.

Last week, Calocane, who was brought up in Haverfordwest, and whose family is believed to still reside in Pembrokeshire, was sentenced to a hospital order for manslaughter by diminished responsibility. This decision followed a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, as heard in Nottingham’s crown court. The sentence was met with dismay from Mr. Webber’s family, who described it as a “huge insult” and called for a public inquiry.

Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber, voiced her frustration after the sentencing, stating that the families were presented with a “fait accompli” regarding the manslaughter charges when they met the CPS in November, with no prior indication that the charges could be anything other than murder.

The urgent review, led by His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, was ordered by Ms. Prentis to investigate the concerns raised by the families. Prime Minister Sunak, in an interview with ITV’s ‘This Morning’, outlined the government’s response, including independent investigations into the roles of various Nottingham institutions and potential missed opportunities to prevent Calocane’s actions.

Mr. Sunak maintained that an inquiry might still be considered necessary after the conclusion of these investigations. He emphasised the government’s commitment to thoroughly and promptly addressing the families’ questions regarding the operations of the NHS, police, and the CPS.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman indicated Mr. Sunak’s openness to an inquiry. Notably, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire police have self-referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner has initiated a comprehensive review by the College of Policing.

This scrutiny follows revelations that police failed to arrest Calocane for an alleged attack on two individuals weeks before the stabbings. Additionally, a special review has been ordered into the mental health trust involved in his treatment prior to the killings.

In a statement, Ms. Prentis expressed her horror at the deaths of Webber, O’Malley-Kumar, and Coates, acknowledging the families’ need for clarity. She assured a prompt and comprehensive review of CPS actions to address the concerns raised in this tragic case. The findings are expected by Easter, with the Attorney General’s Office committed to implementing any recommendations swiftly.

A CPS spokesperson confirmed their full cooperation with the review. Furthermore, Ms. Prentis is considering a judicial review of Calocane’s sentence following a submission that it may be unduly lenient.