The Attorney General's office is considering the jail sentence given to Vickrum Digwa, who murdered 18-year-old Henry Nowak with a ceremonial Sikh knife, after receiving multiple requests for a review under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.
Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 21 years at Southampton Crown Court for the murder on December 3. He used a 21cm Kirpan blade, which he carried as part of his Sikh faith, to stab Nowak. Police bodycam footage showed Nowak being handcuffed as he lay dying after Digwa falsely accused him of being drunk and launching a racist attack.
A spokesman for the Attorney General said: 'We have received multiple requests for Vickrum Digwa's sentence to be considered under the unduly lenient sentence scheme. The law officers have 28 days from sentencing to carefully consider the case and make a decision.'
During sentencing, Judge William Mousley KC said Digwa showed 'callous disregard' for his victim, continuing to film while ignoring Nowak's desperation. Digwa's family apologised to the Sikh community for bringing it into 'disrepute' and expressed sorrow to the Nowak family.
The case has sparked outrage over police conduct. Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds called the bodycam footage 'shocking,' and the Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating. Henry's father Mark Nowak said the contrast between his son's treatment and that of his killer was 'unbearable.'
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has urged the police watchdog to complete its investigation quickly. Digwa's mother, Kiran Kaur, awaits sentencing for assisting an offender by removing the knife from the scene.
