The family of Henry Nowak, a teenager who was handcuffed by police while he lay dying, have spoken publicly about his death for the first time. Henry was stabbed five times by Vickrum Digwa, 23, on December 3, 2025, in Southampton, after which Digwa told police he was the victim of a racist attack. Officers arrested and handcuffed Henry for about a minute, according to police body camera footage, before realising he was seriously injured.
In the footage, Henry told officers: 'I can't breathe,' adding that he had been stabbed. An officer replied: 'I don't think you have, mate.'
Family's shock at the news
Henry's stepmother, Katie, told ITV for a documentary airing this evening that she 'jumped out of bed' when she saw officers outside her home. 'One of the police officers was holding his hat in his hand,' she said, 'and I just knew straight away that something horrific had happened.'
Henry's father, Mark, 'let out a cry that I'll never forget', Katie added. Mark said: 'It was just shock. I just remember saying, "it's Henry," and breaking down in tears. It's just unbelievable pain.'
Henry's mum, Lucy, said officers knocked on the door in the early hours. 'They said to me, "Do you have a son called Henry? There's been an altercation. And unfortunately, your son has passed away",' Lucy said. 'No words, no words can explain that feeling,' she added.
World changed twice
Katie added that the family's 'world changed twice' in the last year. 'The first time was the night that we were told that Henry had died,' she said. 'And the second time was when we watched that video.'
The footage was shown during Digwa's trial in June, where he was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 21 years. It sparked violence in Southampton after right-wing politicians and talking heads claimed the police were biased against white people.
Digwa's mother, Kiran Kaur, was also convicted for removing the knife her son used and was jailed for three years on July 17. Digwa will challenge his sentence at the Court of Appeal on Thursday. The court will also weigh in on a referral by the Attorney General's office, which argued the sentence was too lenient.
Knife law and review
Digwa was also sentenced for possessing a knife in public. He argued that the 21cm blade used in Henry's killing was linked to Nihang, a centuries-old order of Sikhs known he is a member of. The religious knife, as well as a smaller kirpan, a small ceremonial dagger that represents courage, would be exempt under knife laws.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a review into the student's murder last week, looking for 'any missed opportunities to intervene'. Former lord chancellor Alex Chalk, who will lead the review, said: 'The murder of Henry Nowak, an innocent young man, at the hands of Vickrum Digwa shocked the nation. Serious questions have been raised about whether agencies and organisations failed to act on complaints about Digwa's violent and erratic behaviour.'
Chalk said he will review how prosecutors and prison officials treated the family of Henry, a finance student at the University of Southampton. The Independent Office for Police Conduct, which examines wrongdoing, said in July that two officers involved are being investigated.
'These relate to potential failures by the officers to recognise that Henry needed urgent medical attention, to immediately act after he said he had been stabbed and he couldn't breathe, and the decision to arrest and handcuff Henry rather than provide immediate first aid,' the watchdog said. It added that investigators will consider whether race, religion or prejudice had an impact on police actions and decisions.
Once the IOPC's investigation is over, likely early next year, Chalk said he will examine the actions of police officers who attended the scene. An initial report is expected in March.
