Vickrum Digwa, a 23-year-old man described as having a "weapon obsession", has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 18-year-old university student Henry Nowak. Digwa stabbed Nowak five times with a large Sikh dagger, which he claimed to carry for religious reasons. He will serve a minimum of 20 years before being eligible for parole.
False Claims and Police Actions
When police arrived at the scene in Southampton, Digwa falsely alleged that Nowak had racially abused him and knocked off his turban. This led officers to arrest and handcuff Nowak before they discovered his fatal injuries. Hampshire Police have since apologised for their actions, which drew international criticism, including from Elon Musk. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the incident.
Family's Grief and Criticism
Speaking outside court, Nowak's father, Mark Nowak, expressed his anguish over how his son was treated. "Henry did not die with dignity. He did not die with the care he deserved. We hold Vickrum Digwa solely and 100% responsible for the brutal murder of our son. But Henry should not have died on the streets of Southampton in police custody. The way he was treated was inhumane and degrading," he said. He also called on the government to treat knife crime as a national emergency.
Judge's Remarks
Sentencing Digwa, Judge Mousley KC stated: "You have brought shame on your family, your community and your religion. Your actions have stirred up racial tension, which has made many Sikhs worried about their safety." The judge described Nowak as principled and full of promise, noting that he was alone and unarmed on the night of the attack.
The court heard that as the two approached each other, Nowak asked Digwa if he was a "bad man", possibly because he spotted the large dagger. The judge said Digwa may have felt disrespected but added: "I am sure Henry said nothing racist."
Prosecution and Defence
Prosecutor Nicholas Lobbenberg KC described the killing as a "sustained attack on an unarmed man". He highlighted Digwa's obsession with weapons, stating he was "skilled with weapons, trained with weapons, sleeps with weapons, searches for weapons on his phone". Aggravating features included Digwa filming Nowak as he fled and lay injured, and his false defence that Nowak was a racist aggressor.
Defence counsel Jeremy Wainwright KC said Digwa had not intended to use the knife as a weapon that night and had no previous criminal record.
Victim Impact
Henry Nowak, from Essex, was studying finance at the University of Southampton. He was attacked while walking home after a night out with his football team. His father described taking him to university weeks before the murder and seeing him for the last time at a family pantomime. "I couldn't help Henry in his final moments," he said.
Nowak's sister Olivia told the court that 650 people attended his funeral. "My life will never be the same without my best friend," she said. His mother, Lucy Ross, recalled his joy at getting into university and said: "We speak about Henry every day and we always will."
Community Reaction
The Sikh Federation stated that the community faced abuse during the trial and there was misunderstanding about the kirpan. They emphasised that the law only provides a defence for fully practising Sikhs to wear a kirpan for religious reasons. In the UK, it is lawful to possess a kirpan for religious, ceremonial, sporting, or historical purposes.
