Nottingham attacker charged with three murders is allowed to use an alias as he appears in court
AN EX-student charged with the murders of three people in the Nottingham knife and van rampage appeared in court for the first time yesterday — and was allowed to use an alias.
Valdo Calocane, also charged with three attempted murders in the city, appeared calm in the dock and was referred to as Adam Mendes.
West Africa-born Calocane, 31, appeared at a ten-minute hearing to face murder charges over students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65.
He is also accused of three attempted murders in the city last Tuesday.
Two pedestrians who survived a collision with a van were named for the first time as Sharon Miller and Marcin Gawronski.
The other was previously named as Wayne Birkett, 58.
Calocane spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth and said he was of no fixed address as he stood in the glass-backed dock flanked by three security guards.
The defendant — wearing grey, prison-issue T-shirt, grey joggers and black pumps — glanced nervously towards the public gallery — where half a dozen people were watching the proceedings.
No known family members of the victims attended.
Presiding magistrate Allison Folkett told Calocane — who is bearded with short black hair and of medium height and build — that the court accepted his request to be known also as Adam Mendes.
The three pedestrians were injured when they were hit by a white Vauxhall Vivaro van.
Mr Birkett was in Milton Street, and Ms Miller and Mr Gawronski, were in Upper Parliament Street.
One of them has been discharged from hospital.
No application for bail was made to Nottingham JPs and he was not required to enter any pleas.
Ms Folkett told him: “I am remanding you in custody because of the risk of you committing further imprisonable offences.”
She referred to him as Mr Mendes as she said he would be returned to the cells.
He will appear at the city’s crown court on Tuesday.
