“Want to go again?” a choreographer asks Charli XCX at the start of the mockumentary The Moment. It’s the latest entry in the pop star’s rapidly expanding cinematic empire, propelled by the stratospheric cultural impact of her 2024 album, Brat.

He is asking if she’s ready to practise a gyrating, strobe-heavy routine one more time. But this question also gestures towards the central conceit of the film: what if “Brat summer” was pushed beyond its natural expiry date? Not to explore “the tension of staying too long”, as Charli has described it, but in a cynical attempt to further monetise this fleeting moment of pop cultural hype.

Conceived by Charli, The Moment offers a semi-fictionalised mockumentary account of the post Brat summer comedown. It positions her at the centre of several cynical attempts to extend its lifespan through questionable endorsement deals, social media posts and an ill-fated concert film. The film’s events map eerily onto the real post-Brat timeline, inviting knowing audiences to question the boundary between fiction and reality.

Charli’s uncertain response to the choreographer’s question − “Err … yeah?” – from the floor of her rehearsal space (in that starriest of destinations, Dagenham) crystallises the film’s knowing subversion of dominant trends in the female-oriented pop star documentary.

As cultural theorist Annelot Prins has outlined in a paper, pop star documentaries like Lady Gaga’s Five Foot Two (2017), Kesha’s Rainbow (2020) and Taylor’s Swift’s Miss Americana (2020) tend to present “empowering narratives of talented and hardworking women who used to be constrained by different factors but overcame them with resilience […] and are now self-determined agents”.

This approach to female celebrity has continued in a recent glut of arena concert films released by stars including Swift, Beyoncé and Olivia Rodrigo. These arena spectaculars combine polished tour footage with backstage glimpses into the creative process. It’s a combination of intimacy and polish engineered to confirm their authentic talent in the face of the relentless commercial demands of the pop world.

À lire aussi :
A swift history of the concert film, from The Last Waltz to the Eras Tour

The “resilient pop documentary” is part of a wider trend identified by feminist media scholars: representations of celebrity women overcoming setbacks such as sexual assault (Kesha), addiction (Demi Lovato) or illness (Lady Gaga).

Feminist sociologist Angela McRobbie’s work shows how these images of “resilient” female celebrities block collective resistance to misogyny, racism and classism, by making women believe they can overcome oppression through “self-management and care”.

This is a pattern that these documentaries repeat with their emphasis on the creative survival of the damaged female pop star. The Moment invokes and satirises these narrative templates by showing Charli’s fictionalised self’s inability to control the runaway momentum of her own stardom.

Resilience to reflexivity

While The Moment has been positioned as Charli’s pivot from pop to the silver screen, it extends the subversions of her oft-forgotten first cinematic venture: 2022’s Charli XCX: Alone Together.

Inverting The Moment’s narrative structure, Alone Together opens with Charli’s preparations for her first arena tour, charting the effects of its abrupt cancellation in the wake of COVID. The remainder of the film depicts Charli’s production of her fourth studio album over the course of a whirlwind six-weeks of the first lockdown.

This ambitious undertaking could have provided the perfect opportunity to emphasise Charli’s resilience, but Alone Together takes a difference tack. It focuses on the emotional toll the album’s production took on Charli and emphasises the digital spaces of care and community that enabled her and her fans to survive the pandemic.

While The Moment and Alone Together approach subversion differently, both knowingly undermine the resilience typically celebrated in pop star documentaries, exposing the endless performance of “overcoming” on which female pop stardom relies. The ending of Alone Together positions Charli as the unmoved consumer of the final album. A post-credit sequence shows her immediately at another loose end. “I just feel a bit, like, bored … What am I going to do now?” she says to camera, laughing.

The Moment’s closing scenes echo Alone Together’s feeling of anti-climax by ending with the trailer for the Brat concert film and its invitation to “be a 365 Party Girl from the comfort of your own home”. Hilariously, this is soundtracked by the Verve’s Bitter Sweet Symphony – an overplayed Britpop anthem that confirms the fictional XCX’s fall from cool in pursuit of mass appeal.

The film’s quasi-documentary style compounds its challenge to the forms of authenticity upon which resilient pop stardom relies. In a voice note to her team, Charli explains that she is completing the film to “kill Brat” and free herself to pursue other creative endeavours. Here, the film uses the intimate framing used to convey authentic agency in the conventional pop documentary. This serves to blur the paper-thin line between the “real” post-Brat hype engineered by Charli and the trite, opportunistic spectacle she embraces in The Moment.

That we are left with no clear sense of what the difference truly is signals that, far from being a “shallow” take on pop celebrity, The Moment turns the conventions of the pop star documentary against themselves. In doing so, the film cleverly exposes the artificiality inherent in even the most seemingly authentic of pop performances.

Taken together, these two films cement Charli XCX’s status as our best chronicler of contemporary female pop stardom and the role of her film texts in exposing the artifice at play in supposedly “authentic” resilient pop cultural performance.

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Boxing greats Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have agreed a professional rematch in September.

Pacquiao, 47, and Mayweather, 48, will fight at Sphere in Las Vegas on Saturday, 19 September, with the bout live on Netflix.

Former world champion Mayweather announced he would come out of retirement for a fourth time last week.

It will be the American’s first professional fight since beating mixed martial arts fight Conor McGregor with a 10th-round technical knockout in 2017.

Filipino Pacquiao retired from the sport to focus on his political career in 2021 but returned to the ring last July to fight WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, who retained his title after a draw.

Mayweather and Pacquiao first met in 2015, in what was billed as the ‘Fight of the Century’ and remains the richest in boxing history.

It was Mayweather who emerged victorious, beating Pacquiao via a wide unanimous decision in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao said: “Floyd and I gave the world what remains the biggest fight in boxing history.

“The fans have waited long enough. They deserve this rematch.

“I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him.”

Mayweather said: “I already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result.”

Mayweather has won all 50-0 of his professional fights, with 27 coming by knockout.

He has had a string of exhibition bouts since retiring in 2017 and is scheduled to face Mike Tyson this year.

Pacquiao, who has 62 wins from his 73 bouts, said in October that the pair were close to agreeing a rematch – but added it was dependent on he and Mayweather being able to “understand each other”.

Their previous meeting in 2015 generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and a record live gate of $72m at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Full details regarding the undercard and ticket availability will be announced in the coming weeks.

Man Utd got back to winning ways under Michael Carrick as they dug in to record a 1-0 win against Everton on their first visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Benjamin Sesko was the hero once again as the striker came off the bench to score Manchester United’s winner against Everton, on a night when Michael Carrick’s team took a firm grip on the race for Champions League football.

United produced another flat first-half performance and lacked a cutting edge to pose Everton problems. The hosts were on top when the breakthrough came, a counter-attack finally giving the visitors space to exploit.

Bryan Mbeumo, off colour for most of the night, got his decision right to square for Sesko, who delivered a first-time finish to give Jordan Pickford no chance.

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This is how the United players rated at the Hill Dickinson Stadium:

Senne Lammens: Nervous start when his first clearance was charged down by Thierno Barry, but some really solid saves after that. Proactive from corners sent into his six-yard box. 8

Diogo Dalot: United’s best player for most of the game. Defended well, combative throughout and tried to provide some width and some runs in behind from an attacking sense. 7

Leny Yoro: A bit slack in not blocking Barry’s run from kick-off but grew into the game when Everton put the pressure on in the second half. 7

Harry Maguire: A street-smart performance. Read the game well, bullied Barry at times and used his experience to lead the defence. Solid outing without Lisandro Martinez next to him. 7

Luke Shaw: Wasted a first-half crossing chance but was rarely seen in an attacking sense as play went down the right or the middle. Had his moments against Iliman Ndiaye in a good battle. 6

Casemiro: A real mixed bag. One excellent pass, strong in his own area, but skinned by Ndiaye at one point and lacked the composure he has shown recently. 6

Kobbie Mainoo: Got through a lot of work defensively and for once looked to be the player bailing out his most illustrious partner. Further proof his defensive game has improved. 7

Amad: Had an early chance but drifted out of the game after that. Didn’t do enough to unsettle Jarrad Branthwaite, who was out of position at left-back, and looks short on confidence. 5

Bruno Fernandes: Not his best night. Tried too hard to force things while United were level and was clearly frustrated in the first half by the lack of options in front of him. 6

Matheus Cunha: Spent too long in the first half playing centrally and was never on the left. Clearly told to stay wider in the second half and proved his worth with a long pass to help create the goal. 6

Bryan Mbeumo: Didn’t have a great night but got his decision spot-on when squaring for Sesko to give United the lead. Found it tough as centre-forward and first-half rotation not helpful. 6

Substitutes

Benjamin Sesko: Three crucial goals off the bench now for Carrick and his start has to be around the corner. Finished off the counter-attack brilliantly. 8

Noussair Mazraoui: Got stuck in as United defended for their lives after taking the lead. 7

Subs not used: Bayindir, Heaven, Malacia, Ugarte, T. Fletcher, Moorhouse, Zirkzee

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She said she struggled to find questions that would cover every concern she had about the Government’s proposed reforms, adding: “I owe so much to all of you, who have stood with us ever since we have shared Nora’s diagnosis, and have been so generous in sharing your own experiences, both the good and challenging.

LONDON (AP) — British police on Monday arrested Peter Mandelson, a former U.K. ambassador to the United States, in a misconduct probe stemming from his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein. It came days after a friendship with Epstein landed the former Prince Andrew in police custody.

Both men are suspected of improperly passing U.K. government information to the disgraced U.S. financier, and the high-profile British arrests are some of the most dramatic fallout from the trove of more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents released last month by the U.S. Justice Department.

London’s Metropolitan Police force said “officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office” at an address in north London. He was taken to a police station for questioning.

The man was not named, in keeping with British police practice, but the suspect in the case previously was identified as the former diplomat, who is 72. Mandelson was filmed being led from his London home to a car by plainclothes officers on Monday afternoon.

Under U.K. law, police can hold a suspect without charge for up to 24 hours. This can be extended to a maximum of 96 hours. Mandelson could be charged, released unconditionally or released while investigations continue.

Claims of leaked government information

Police are investigating Mandelson over claims he passed sensitive government information to Epstein a decade and a half ago. He does not face allegations of sexual misconduct.

His arrest came four days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, was arrested in a separate case on suspicion of a similar offense related to his friendship with Epstein. Andrew was released after 11 hours in custody while the police investigation continues.

Mandelson served in senior government roles under previous Labour governments and was U.K. ambassador to Washington until Prime Minister Keir Starmer fired him in September after emails were published showing that he maintained a friendship with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction for sex offenses involving a minor.

The files released in January contained more explosive revelations about Mandelson’s ties to Epstein, whom he once called “my best pal.”

Messages suggest that Mandelson passed on sensitive — and potentially market-moving — government information to Epstein in 2009, when Mandelson was a senior minister in the British government. That includes an internal government report discussing ways the U.K. could raise money after the 2008 global financial crisis, including by selling off government assets. Mandelson also appears to have told Epstein he would lobby other members of the government to reduce a tax on bankers’ bonuses.

British police launched a criminal probe earlier this month and searched Mandelson’s two houses in London and western England.

The decision to appoint Mandelson nearly cost Starmer his job earlier this month, as questions swirled around his judgment about someone who has flirted with controversy during a decades-long political career.

Though he acknowledged he made a mistake and apologized to victims of Epstein, Starmer’s position remains precarious. His future may rest on the release of files connected to Mandelson’s appointment. The government has pledged to begin releasing those documents in early March, though the timeline may be complicated by his arrest.

Mandelson a contentious figure

Mandelson has been a major, if contentious, figure in the center-left Labour Party for decades. He is a skilled — critics say ruthless — political operator whose mastery of political intrigue earned him the nickname “Prince of Darkness.”

The grandson of former Labour Cabinet minister Herbert Morrison, he was an architect of the party’s return to power in 1997 as centrist, modernizing “New Labour” under Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Mandelson served in senior government posts under Blair between 1997 and 2001, and under Prime Minister Gordon Brown from 2008 to 2010. In between, he was the European Union’s trade commissioner. Brown has been particularly angered by the revelations and has been helping police with their inquiries.

Mandelson twice had to resign from government during the Blair administration over allegations of financial or ethical impropriety, acknowledging mistakes but denying wrongdoing.

He later returned to government and was back on the political front line when Starmer named him ambassador to Washington at the start of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term. Mandelson’s trade expertise and comfort around the ultra-rich were considered major assets. He helped secure a trade deal in May that spared Britain some of the tariffs Trump has imposed on countries around the world.

The status of the deal is now up in the air after Trump announced a new set of global tariffs in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision quashing his previous import tax order.

Earlier this month Mandelson resigned from the House of Lords, Parliament’s upper chamber, to which he was appointed for life in 2008. But he still has the title — Lord Mandelson — that went with it.

Data from Chemist4U has revealed purchases of Norethisterone and Mexdroxyprogesterone doubled in January compared to the previous year, as women turned to temporarily delaying their period ahead of the end of winter.

The figures were revealed after Google searches for “how to delay my period” jumped 24% the week before valentine’s day, highlighting how women are taking control of their own cycles to avoid inconvenient timing.

Sales of short-term period delay treatments surge, pharmacy data reveals (Image: Newsquest)

Pharmacist Hanna Yusuf, a women’s health expert at Chemist4U outlines how period delay treatments work and the practical way that women can use them.

She said: “Periods can be unpredictable, and their timing isn’t always ideal. For those who want to delay natural bleeding for a short time, period delay medication may be an option.

“Period delay involves using a prescription-only medication to temporarily postpone your period. It’s generally a safe short-term option that can help you avoid bleeding during a trip, a big event like a wedding, or any time it would be particularly disruptive.

“Postponing your period can give you back a sense of control over your body, help manage any period related pain, and give you the freedom to focus when you most need it. It can also offer emotional relief, helping you feel more confident and prepared for whatever you’ve got planned, without the worry of cramps, leaks, or fatigue getting in the way.

“Delaying or skipping a period is generally safe when done correctly, and your period typically resumes within 2-3 days after stopping the tablets. The important thing is to use approved methods and speak to a healthcare professional first so they can help you can choose the right option for your individual circumstances.”

Hanna shares her practical guidance on delaying a period safely:

1.     Plan ahead

·        You usually need to start tablets at least three days before your period is due

·        Track your cycle for at least two to three months before you want to delay your period, so you can predict dates more accurately

·        If your cycles are irregular, discuss timing early with a healthcare professional and allow for a margin of error in case your period is due sooner than expected

2.     Know your options

·        If you’re not on hormonal contraception, Norethisterone, is the primary medication prescribed for period delay because it’s highly effective and acts quickly; medroxyprogesterone may be another option, but is usually reserved for those who have a higher risk of blood clots

·        Both medications work by maintaining your progesterone levels, preventing your womb lining from shedding until you stop taking them

·        If you’re on the combined contraceptive pill, you may be able to delay bleeding by skipping the break but always check with your prescriber first

3.     Check eligibility

·        Period delay treatments aren’t suitable for everyone and are prescribed based on individual risk factors

·        For example, they may not be appropriate if you have certain medical conditions which may put you at risk of complications such as blood clots.

·        Other factors, such as smoking status, migraine history, blood pressure, and personal or family history of clotting disorders, will also be assessed

 Hanna concludes: “While it’s understandable that people want more control over when their period arrives, particularly around important events or travel, it’s essential to approach period delay safely. Always seek advice from a healthcare professional before starting treatment, make sure it’s suitable for you, and follow the instructions in your patient information leaflet carefully.”

Half of people in the UK use a wearable device, such as a fitness tracker or smartwatch. These devices collect data relating to health and physical activity levels – including heart rate, step count and sleep quality. With the emergence of AI, such devices will probably become even more sophisticated – potentially able to diagnose our health problems before our GP.

But while wearables can be really useful when it comes to understanding many aspects of your heart health, they still have many shortcomings – so it’s important not to rely on them for everything.

A key strength of modern wearables is the fact that they record such a wide range of useful data, and track trends over time. This makes them perfect for measuring whether any lifestyle changes you’ve made are working for you, and what effects they might be having. For instance, your wearable can tell you if your health kick has had a measurable affect on your sleep quality or blood pressure.

In addition to measuring step count and physical activity, many of the most commonly worn wearables collect cardiovascular data via photoplethysmography (PPG). This is where a light located at the back of the wearable interacts with tiny blood vessels in the skin to give an estimate of changes in blood volume. These changes can be used to accurately measure heart rate, rhythm and blood oxygen levels.

Many currently available devices are also able to record electrocardiographic (ECG) data. This also records your heart’s electric activity, including heart rate and rhythm.

This is why some wearables, particularly those with ECG technology, could be useful in cardiology consultations.

There are currently limitations to the ECGs a cardiologist would normally use to diagnose heart rhythm issues. These ECG monitors only record heart rhythm data for a limited period, such as 24 or 72 hours. This could mean doctors don’t get a full picture of heart health.

But since many people who own a smartwatch or fitness tracker wear them for many hours of the day and over many weeks, this means their wearable may be recording at the time when cardiac symptoms – such as palpitations – occur. This means wearables may overcome the inherent limitations with clinical ECG recordings.

For instance, a recent study demonstrated that smartwatches can reliably detect atrial fibrillation (a heart rhythm disorder that increases risk of stroke) in patients at risk of the condition. And wearables can also be useful for regularly and accurately monitoring daytime blood pressure.

So, wearables have the ability to provide data that is highly useful to a cardiologist in helping determine a probable diagnosis. But just how much can we rely on this data?

Wearable limitations

Most wearables that detect blood pressure do so via PPG data, which measures blood pressure differently to an inflatable blood pressure cuff. Wearables may also only provide a blood pressure range rather than absolute results. This means a patient may not know whether their “true” blood pressure is normal or not.

The British and Irish Hypertension Society, which formally validates and endorses cuff-based blood pressure monitors, currently doesn’t have a framework to validate wearables. This means no wearables on the market which provide blood pressure monitoring have been officially validated.

There’s also a lack of standardisation across the market for how different wearables produce data for particular metrics. This means it’s possible different devices could give different readouts – even if they’re looking at the same person. If wearables are to be integrated into the healthcare system in future, then standardised, validated methods would be needed.

There are also potential issues in how wearables are positioned within the market with regard their medical capabilities.

Some are advertised as having medical-grade measuring capabilities. However, the majority of devices on the market have not been approved as medical devices by regulatory bodies. This distinction is important for the average consumer to understand, so they don’t trust the device’s data more than they should.

While wearables can be extremely useful for understanding many aspects of your day-to-day heart health, there’s still much about them that will need to be improved before they become a standard part of cardiac care.

Quality assurance and compatibility across different brands will be key, as will ensuring a patient’s data is both reliable and accessible to healthcare staff on their electronic health records.

These are important issues that must be addressed soon if wearable technology is to become a standard part of NHS treatment by 2035, as outlined in the NHS’s ten-year plan for England.

A Kentucky man who was covered in fur has been arrested after he was found having sex with a dead deer, according to authorities.

Allen Osborne, a 32-year-old from Owensboro, was charged with sexual crimes against animals by Central City police on Saturday following the disturbing discovery, according to reports.

A driver had spotted Osborne appearing to have sex with the deer on the side of the road in Muhlenberg County and reported it to police, according to news outlet WEHT, which cited the Central City Police Department.

Allen was found by police with his pants down and blood on his boxers, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported, citing court documents.

The documents alleged Osborne also had deer fur on his hoodie.

Osborne was booked into the Muhlenberg County Detention Center and was being held on a $5,000 bond as of Monday afternoon.

Sexual crimes against animals is a Class D felony, which carries a one to five-year prison sentence if convicted, according to reports.

Information about Osborne’s legal representation was not immediately clear.

The Independent has reached out to Central City police for comment.

The campaign group which commissioned the poll says it is the largest poll ever conducted on assisted dying in Wales and includes all age groups, socio-economic statuses, and voting intentions

Almost three-quarters of people in Wales back assisted dying being introduced in Wales, a poll has found.

The poll of 4,000 adults across Wales, conducted by Opinium for Dignity in Dying, found 72% support the legalisation of assisted dying compared with just 15% who oppose it. When asked: “To what extent would support or oppose making it legal for someone to seek ‘assisted dying’ in Wales how strong is your view?” 35% said “strongly support” and another 37% said “somewhat support”.

The support group says it is the largest poll ever conducted on assisted dying in Wales and includes all age groups, socio-economic statuses, and voting intentions.

The 4,000 people asked were over 18 and interviewed between December 23, 2025, and January 19, 2026. The key findings were:

• 72% supported the legalisation of assisted dying in Wales when asked: “To what extent would support or oppose making it legal for someone to seek ‘assisted dying’ in Wales and how strong is your view?”
• Three-quarters (76%) said if assisted dying were legal in England it should also be legal in Wales while only 12% disagreed.
• If assisted dying were legal 62% believe it should be accessible as part of NHS Wales services while just 17% think it should be delivered through a separate non-NHS service.
• If assisted dying were available through the NHS in England but not in Wales 41% said they would consider assisted dying and would be willing to travel to England to access NHS provision and 19% said they would consider assisted dying but would not be willing to travel.
• Views were evenly split on which level of government should be responsible for designing an assisted dying service in Wales. Around three in 10 favour the UK Government (31%) while a similar proportion prefer the Welsh Government (30%). A further quarter (25%) express no preference either way suggesting no clear public consensus on governance arrangements.

Senedd members will on Tuesday debate assisted dying in the Senedd. There are strong feelings on both sides of the debate. Noah Herniman is one of those campaigning for it saying he wants the same rules in place in Wales as in England.

But opposing it are a host of medical professionals. More than 250 of Wales’ leading medics have urged Senedd members not to back the proposed new assisted dying law.

The law, formally known as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, would allow adults who are terminally ill, subject to safeguards and protections, to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life.

It is a UK law which has to be passed by Westminster and not directly a matter devolved to Wales but it does have an impact on areas of politics which are devolved to Wales so a vote has to take place here too. Usually that is a formality but this looks at how assisted dying is delivered in Wales should the Terminally Ill Adults Bill pass.

The polling shows support for the law comes across the political spectrum with particularly strong backing among Plaid Cymru voters (78%) alongside Welsh Labour voters (77%), Green voters (85%), Welsh Conservative backers (67%), and Reform UK voters (70%) underlining that assisted dying is not a partisan issue but one that commands consistent high public support across party lines.

Just over three-quarters (76%) say that if assisted dying were legal in England it should also be legal in Wales.

If the Senedd votes to approve the legislative consent motion (LCM) this would enable assisted dying to be implemented in Wales in line with the legislation, including through NHS Wales, ensuring people in Wales have equal access to any service in line with those in England. Terminally ill individuals and affected families have warned MSs rejecting the LCM risks creating a system in which people in Wales face additional barriers including being forced to travel to England or rely on private providers at the most vulnerable time of their lives.

Chief executive of Dignity in Dying Sarah Wootton said the findings send a clear message to the Senedd. “This is the biggest poll ever carried out on assisted dying in Wales and it shows beyond doubt that not only do the public support reform, they want their political representatives to engage and actively shape a service fit for Wales,” she said.

“The legislative consent motion is not about the principle of assisted dying. It’s about fairness and equality for the people of Wales. It’s about ensuring the Senedd has the power to design a system that reflects Welsh values, serves the diverse communities of Wales, and is delivered through Welsh health systems.

“Voting it down won’t stop assisted dying from becoming law – it will only stop the Senedd from shaping it and deny dying Welsh people equal access to choice at the end of life.”

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Valdo Calocane’s mother pleaded for her son to be admitted to hospital after a violent outburst three years before he killed three people in a mass stabbing in Nottingham, a public inquiry has heard.

Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, killed University of Nottingham students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, and attempted to kill three more people in Nottingham in June 2023.

A series of reports into the incident by the NHS so far have highlighted failings in Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust’s management of Calocane, including failures to appropriately assess the risk he posed to himself and others. A public inquiry will now scrutinise prosecutors, police and medical professionals.

During the first day of the hearings on Monday, the inquiry heard that Calocane first had a serious violent episode on 24 May 2020. But mental health professionals ruled Calocane was safe to be treated in the community rather than being admitted.

open image in gallery

Counsel to the inquiry Rachel Langdale told the hearing that, during the incident, Calocane, who is referred to as “VC” in proceedings, was found “repeatedly kicking and punching a door” in an attempt to get into a neighbour’s flat.

He was assessed by a mental health professional and found to be suffering from a psychosis mental health episode and “was noted to be presenting with mental health issues, hearing voices, appeared vacant, and had not slept for five days”.

At a follow-up mental health act assessment, Dr Gandhi, along with an approved mental health practitioner, Ben Williams, and a mental health nurse Anna Palmer, agreed he would be offered treatment with antipsychotic medication in the community rather than as an inpatient admission.

According to the statement, Dr Gandhi said he was leaning towards detaining Calocane “given it was the first presentation of psychosis, and a lack of information on risk history”. But he said that the team of professionals also “considered the research evidence that shows overrepresentation of young Black males in detention”.

Dr Gandhi said it is part of his role in assessments to be aware of research, evidence and data including health inequalities but that it would not have affected the decision to admit or treat Calocane in the community.

The inquiry will look at how appropriate that mental health act assessment was.

KC Langdale’s statement later quotes Royal College of Psychiatrist’s evidence stating there is “there is no evidence that psychiatrists are not admitting patients because they are black. The rates of admission are the same as at the time of the publication of the independent review and recent evidence shows that detentions are going up.”

She added that in the specific case of Calocane the inquiry may want to consider whether race was a factor however said the evidence so far received does not suggest it was and that it he was admitted on four on four occasions.

Shortly after being released, Calocane was arrested after attempting to get into another neighbour’s flat and causing the the woman to become so scared she jumped out of her first floor window, causing serious damage to her spine.

Following his arrest, Ms Palmer spoke with his mother, Celeste Calocane, who “noted that she would prefer that her son goes into hospital for treatment, as he’s a risk to others in his current mental state”, the inquiry heard.

Ms Langdale added that the chair of the inquiry Deborah Taylor may ask why Calocane was released at that stage and whether release straight into the community was appropriate.

It was not until the next day, during a further mental health act assessment, that he was recommended for section.

The inquiry will also probe why services deemed, prior to discharging him, that there had been “no incidents of violence” from Calocane despite the episodes in May 2020, as well as a prior incident in which he “had entered a neighbour’s flat to confront those who believed were trying to spy on him and torment his mind”.

Ms Langdale’s opneing statement further revealed in Christmas 2022, Calocane sent his parents files over christmas which included, a document explaining he “had been hearing voices in his head all the time, but this wasn’t the result of mental ill-health”, but it was explained by “mind control technology”, the inquiry heard.

After the attacks on June 13, analysis of Calocane’s phone was undertaken, which show he researched “mind control technology” and watched videos including of a shooting. He also viewed documents with some content relating to the law and police powers, Ms Langdale said.

He largely kept a low profile during his fourth hospital admission in early 2022, spending most of his time on his phone.

Ms Langdale said the inquiry will “explore with treating clinicians whether they ever asked VC what he was viewing on his phone, if not, why not, and whether patients routinely have unfettered access to their phone”.

His risk assessment was updated for the final time prior to the attacks on February 28 2022 – which noted “that given the history of violence and aggression, there should not be home visits, and if a home visit was required it should be a joint visit; no lone working”.

Ms Langdale added: “We will ask why this assessment of the risks to the community medical team did notapply equally to other students and the wider public.”

In September 2022 Calocane was discharged from the early intervention in psychosis team which were responsible for his care in the community at the time. He was discharged back to his GP as the team could not make contact with him despite attempts to.

The inquiry will consider whether discharging him to his GP for non-attendance to appointments should have been a signal of his deteriorating mental health.

In the months leading up to the killings in June 2023 Calocane’s GP sent text messages asking him to arrange an appointment, however he was not seen and was not provided with any medication.

“The Inquiry will consider the role of primary care services following discharge of non-engaging patients, especially where the non-engagement may be an indication of deteriorating mental health and increased risk,” the statement said.

Ms Langdale also said there appears to be a “lacuna” in terms on monitoring patients’ medication as Calocane’s GP claimed this was the responsibility of the trust.

“It does not appear the GP practice took any steps to manage VC’s prescriptions or make any efforts to ensure he received any. VC was essentially in the community disengaged from any health service and unmedicated”, the inquiry heard.

Calocane was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January 2024 after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder – something which has been widely criticised by the victims’ families.

The inquiry continues.