Vickrum Digwa, the killer of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, has been given permission to appeal his prison sentence. Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years on June 1.
He will challenge the length of his sentence at the Court of Appeal on November 5. The Attorney General is expected to argue that the sentence is too lenient, with both arguments set to be heard together.
Conviction appeal also applied for
Digwa has also applied for leave to appeal against his conviction for murder, which will be decided separately, the Criminal Appeal Office said.
Digwa stabbed Mr Nowak in Southampton on December 3, while the university student was walking home after a night out with friends. Digwa falsely accused Mr Nowak of racially abusing him, leading police to handcuff the 18-year-old as he lay dying from his injuries.
Anger over police body-worn video
Anger erupted following the release of the police body-worn video showing Mr Nowak, who was from Chafford Hundred in Essex, being placed in cuffs.
In June, Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC applied for Digwa's 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."
Referral to Court of Appeal
"After careful consideration, I have taken the decision to refer this case to the Court of Appeal."
"No sentence can ever undo the devastation that Henry's family have suffered, or fill the void left by his loss. But I hope this referral goes some way towards bringing them the justice they deserve."
