The solicitor general, Ellie Reeves, has referred the 21-year minimum sentence of Vickrum Digwa for the murder of Henry Nowak to the Court of Appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme. The announcement was made on Monday, following widespread public outrage over the case.
Henry Nowak, 18, was stabbed to death by Digwa in Southampton in December last year. After the attack, Digwa falsely claimed to police that he was the victim of a racist attack, leading officers to handcuff Nowak and treat him as a suspect despite his pleas that he could not breathe. Digwa watched Nowak struggle without alerting police to his serious injuries.
The mandatory sentence for murder is life imprisonment, with the minimum term determining parole eligibility. The prosecution had argued for a 25-year starting point, potentially exceeding 30 years with aggravating factors. However, defence barrister Jeremy Wainwright KC successfully argued that the starting point should be 15 years, citing Digwa's religious belief in carrying a Kirpan, resulting in a 21-year tariff.
Solicitor General Reeves stated: 'This case horrified me, and I know that feeling is shared by the British public. After careful consideration, I have taken the decision to refer this case to the court of appeal.' She added that while no sentence can undo the devastation, she hopes the referral brings justice to Henry's family.
The trial judge, William Mousley KC, noted that the murder did not involve taking a knife with the purpose to use it as a weapon, and that Digwa may have had a good legal reason for carrying the dagger initially. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the police handling of the incident.
