Starmer backs Nottingham attacks inquiry as government considers sentence review

Keir Starmer, has joined calls for an inquiry into any failings that led to the fatal Nottingham knife attacks.

- Jamie Grierson

The attorney general is considering whether judges should review the sentence of the killer, Valdo Calocane, after receiving a submission that it could be unduly lenient.

A judge handed down a restricted hospital order to the 32-year-old, who has paranoid schizophrenia and whose pleas to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility were accepted this week.

The families of the three people he killed have reacted angrily to the sentencing and accused prosecutors of a fait accompli in accepting a manslaughter charge rather than pursuing a murder conviction. They said the search would continue for answers from police, health authorities and the Crown Prosecution Service about "missed opportunities".

Starmer, a former head of the CPS, said the deaths were "absolutely awful" as he backed the demand for an inquiry into the case.

The Labour leader told ITV's This Morning: "As far as the sentence is concerned, obviously there are mental health issues in this particular case, and the attorney general has got the power to review it, and I think that probably makes sense, and have it double checked by the court of appeal.