The parents of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old university student fatally stabbed in Southampton, have spoken of their grief and criticised police treatment of their son. Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years for the murder, which involved a large Sikh dagger carried for religious reasons.
Outside court, Henry's father Mark Nowak said: '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 called on the government to treat knife crime as a national emergency.
The court heard that when police arrived, Digwa falsely claimed Nowak had racially abused him and knocked his turban off, leading officers to arrest and handcuff the student before they saw his fatal injuries. Hampshire Police have apologised, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating.
Sentencing Digwa, Judge Mousley KC said: 'You have brought shame on your family, your community and your religion. Your actions have stirred up racial tension.' He noted that practising Sikhs may carry a kirpan but 'that privilege brings with it a huge responsibility'. The judge said Nowak was principled and full of promise, and that he was sure Henry said nothing racist.
Prosecutor Nicholas Lobbenberg KC described Digwa as 'a man with a weapon obsession', skilled and trained with weapons. He said aggravating features included Digwa filming Nowak as he lay injured, and his false defence adding to the family's grief. Henry's sister Olivia said 650 people attended his funeral, and his mother Lucy Ross recalled him 'beaming' when he got his university place.
