Vickrum Digwa, 23, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 18-year-old university student Henry Nowak in Southampton. Digwa will serve a minimum of 20 years before becoming eligible for parole. The attack occurred on the night of 24 July 2024, when Digwa stabbed Nowak five times with a large Sikh dagger, which he claimed to be carrying for religious reasons.
When police arrived at the scene, Digwa falsely accused Nowak of racial abuse and knocking off his turban, leading officers to arrest and handcuff the victim before realising his fatal injuries. Hampshire Police have apologised for their actions, which drew criticism from Elon Musk. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the incident.
During sentencing at Southampton Crown Court, Judge Mousley KC described Digwa's actions as bringing shame on his family, community, and religion. He noted that practising Sikhs are permitted to carry a kirpan as a symbol of faith, but that privilege carries a huge responsibility, and the weapon must never be used offensively. The judge stated that Henry Nowak was unarmed and alone at the time of the attack, and that there was no evidence he made any racist remarks.
Prosecutor Nicholas Lobbenberg KC described Digwa as a man with a 'weapon obsession', skilled and trained in weapons, who slept with weapons and searched for them online. He highlighted aggravating features including Digwa filming Nowak as he lay injured and making a false defence that the victim was a racist aggressor, which added to the family's grief.
In a victim personal statement, Henry's father Mark Nowak criticised the police treatment of his son and called on the government to treat knife crime as a national emergency. He said: 'Henry did not die with dignity. He did not die with the care he deserved.' Henry's sister Olivia told the court that 650 people attended his funeral, and his mother Lucy Ross recalled his joy at gaining a university place.
