Southampton, UK – Vickrum Digwa, 23, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old university student Henry Nowak. The case has drawn significant public attention and sparked controversy due to the initial actions of police officers who handcuffed the fatally wounded Nowak at the scene after false accusations from his attacker.
Henry Nowak, a first-year accountancy and finance student at the University of Southampton, was stabbed five times with a 21cm ceremonial knife (kirpan) by Digwa on December 3, 2025, as he walked home from a night out. During the incident, Digwa falsely claimed that Nowak had racially abused him and knocked off his turban. "He’s attacked with a blade. He’s stabbed five times. He calls out that he’s been hurt," a social media post from "Justice for Henry Nowak" highlighted, detailing the tragic sequence of events.
Upon arrival, police officers, misled by Digwa's fabricated story, arrested and handcuffed Nowak, who was already gravely injured. The judge in the case, His Honour Judge William Mousley K.C., stated he was "sure that Henry had said nothing racist," and noted that Digwa's lies "hampered" police and "obstructed the course of justice." Henry's father, Mark Nowak, condemned the "inhumane and degrading treatment" of his son, explaining that Henry was "pulled across the gravel, his hands forced behind his back, and he was placed in handcuffs."
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed an ongoing investigation into the contact Hampshire and Isle of Wight officers had with Mr. Nowak, including the use of handcuffs and the first aid provided. Hampshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Robert France has since apologised, stating he was "really sorry" that Henry had been arrested and handcuffed. The incident has intensified calls for police accountability and raised questions about initial response protocols in complex situations.
The case has also ignited debate over the legal exemption allowing Sikhs to carry kirpans in public for religious reasons, with some political figures, including Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf, calling for its abolition. However, others, such as Labour MP Sarah Coombes, argue against such bans, emphasizing the importance of protecting religious freedoms and cautioning against stigmatizing an entire faith community based on the actions of an individual. The tragic death of Henry Nowak and the subsequent police handling have become a focal point for discussions on justice, police conduct, and religious exemptions in the UK.
