Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced an independent review into the murder of Henry Nowak, with former Tory Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk KC set to lead the probe. The 18-year-old university student was stabbed to death on his way home in Southampton last December, and police handcuffed him as he lay dying after his killer, Vickrum Digwa, falsely claimed he had been racially abused.
Family welcomes 'significant moment' in justice fight
Henry's family has described the announcement as a "significant moment" in their fight for justice. Ms Mahmood told MPs: "We must get to the truth of what happened before, during and after that awful night and we must do everything in our power to make sure no other families endure the same fate. We owe that to Henry and all who loved him. They deserve answers and this review will provide them."
The Nowak family said: "At last, some positive news. Today's announcement of the Henry Nowak Independent Review is a significant moment in our fight for justice. Since Henry was murdered, we've fought tirelessly for answers to questions no family should ever have to ask. The emotional toll of that fight, on top of the unimaginable grief of losing Henry, has been immense."
Review to examine missed opportunities and police conduct
The review will be conducted in two parts, Ms Mahmood said. The first stage will investigate whether opportunities were missed to prevent Henry's murder, examining what was known about Digwa in the five years before the attack. This will focus on police, health services, local authorities, educational institutions, and faith organisations, covering concerns about weapon possession and Digwa's violent, threatening and erratic behaviour.
This phase will also look at how the Nowak family was treated by the criminal justice system. The second phase will examine the actions of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is investigating the conduct of two officers, and will also look at police if necessary.
Bodycam footage and sentencing
Bodycam footage showing officers handcuffing Henry as he lay dying sparked an outcry when it was released after Digwa was found guilty. Despite repeatedly telling officers he had been stabbed, one officer told Henry: "I don't think you have mate." An investigation into potential gross misconduct by two Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary officers was launched following Digwa's trial.
Digwa was jailed for a minimum of 21 years. Shortly after his sentencing, Solicitor General Ellie Reeves applied for his sentence to be reconsidered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. She said at the time: "This case horrified me, and I know that feeling is shared by the British public. It is right that difficult questions need to be answered about the way the police handled Henry's Nowak's murder, while my role is to review Digwa's sentence for his crimes." The referral to the Court of Appeal is set to be heard next month.
After seeing the footage, former Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "This has understandably been devastating for his parents, for his family and everybody who knew him. And I have seen the bodycam footage. It's harrowing, and I have to say, as a father of a 17 year old boy, I felt sick watching it."
