The family of the man who murdered Henry Nowak has issued a statement expressing their profound regret for the pain and suffering caused by Vickrum Digwa. In a rare public apology, they also expressed remorse for bringing the Sikh community into disrepute. Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for stabbing 18-year-old Henry to death using a ceremonial knife he carried as part of his religious observance.
The statement, released through Sikh PA, a charity representing the Sikh community in media matters, comes as Digwa's mother, Kiran Kaur, awaits sentencing for assisting an offender. Kaur, 53, is accused of taking the knife used in the murder back to the family home after the attack. She will be sentenced on July 17 following the preparation of a pre-sentence report.
Family Statement: 'We Are Deeply Sorry'
In their statement, unnamed family members said: 'The loss of a young life is a grief that no family should ever have to carry. We are deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the Nowak family has had to endure.' They added: 'We love Vickrum. We will continue to love him. That does not stand in opposition to the sorrow we feel for the Nowak family. Both are real, and both will remain with us for the rest of our lives.'
The family expressed a wish to turn back time so that the paths of Henry and Vickrum never crossed that night. They apologised to the Sikh community for Digwa's actions, which they said had unfairly brought the community into disrepute, and asked that the tragedy not be used to inflame division or hostility towards any community. They concluded by requesting privacy as they come to terms with what lies ahead.
The Murder and Trial
Digwa was found guilty at Southampton Crown Court for the murder of Henry Nowak, a finance student from Chafford Hundred, Essex. The attack occurred on December 3, 2025, in Southampton, where Henry was stabbed multiple times with a 21cm blade. Digwa was also convicted of carrying a knife in public. The brutal assault involved two stab wounds to the back of Henry's legs and a fatal wound to his heart.
Moments before the attack, Digwa was filmed telling Henry: 'I am a bad man.' In his defence, Digwa claimed Henry had racially abused him, punched him, and knocked off his turban. He said he stabbed Henry in self-defence after Henry threatened him and grabbed his hair, but claimed he did not realise he had caused the fatal chest wound. However, the prosecution argued that Digwa told police a 'wicked lie', portraying himself as the victim of a racist attack.
Police Response and Aftermath
Digwa also lied to police by denying he had stabbed Henry, despite the student's cries for help. Henry was arrested and handcuffed moments before collapsing and dying. Judge William Mousley KC noted that Digwa carried a small concealed knife called a kirpan, a strict requirement for Sikhs, but also possessed the larger 21cm murder weapon, which the judge also described as a kirpan. The judge observed that Digwa, a member of the Nihang order of Sikhs, traditionally displayed a second kirpan visibly, but this was not a strict requirement, as evidenced by his brother and father not being similarly dressed when they arrived at the scene.
