Southampton, UK – Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has issued an apology after 18-year-old university student Henry Nowak, fatally stabbed in December, was handcuffed and arrested by officers as he lay dying. The incident occurred after his killer, Vickrum Digwa, falsely accused Nowak of a racist attack. Digwa, 23, was recently found guilty of Nowak's murder following a trial at Southampton Crown Court.
First-year finance student Henry Nowak was stabbed five times with a 21cm ceremonial knife on December 3, 2025, while walking home from a night out in Southampton. Upon arrival, officers initially handcuffed Nowak, acting on Digwa's fabricated claims that he was the victim of a racist assault. Ben Sixsmith, commenting on the situation, noted, > "Within three minutes of arriving, they realised the severity of his condition" is such a tell. That's a ridiculously long time to realise that someone has been stabbed and is dying. The video is going to be devastating.
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Robert France publicly stated, "I am sorry that he had been handcuffed and arrested as he lost consciousness." He acknowledged the tragedy and the force's failure to immediately understand the situation. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an independent investigation into the contact officers had with Mr. Nowak, including the use of handcuffs and the first aid provided.
The trial revealed that Digwa, who carried the blade as part of his Sikh faith, invented a "wicked lie" claiming self-defence and that Nowak was drunk, shouted racist abuse, and knocked off his turban. Toxicology reports, however, showed Nowak's alcohol levels were below the drink-drive limit. Digwa was convicted of murder, while his mother, Kiran Kaur, was found guilty of assisting an offender by removing the weapon from the scene.
The case has drawn significant attention, with calls for accountability regarding the police's initial response. Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones emphasized that it is "right that an IOPC investigation has been launched into the actions of the police to get to the truth." Digwa is scheduled for sentencing at Southampton Crown Court on Monday.
