Vickrum Digwa has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Henry Nowak, who was fatally stabbed in Southampton on December 3, 2025, after a confrontation.
A Fatal Confrontation in Southampton
On December 3, 2025, 18-year-old Henry Nowak was walking alone to his dormitory after meeting with his football teammates. According to court findings, he encountered Vickrum Digwa, and a brief exchange led to a confrontation. Nowak was stabbed five times with a kirpan, a traditional Sikh knife with a 21-centimeter blade.
Police Failure at the Crime Scene
Responding officers initially treated the dying student as the aggressor rather than the victim. Digwa claimed he had been racially attacked, a version of events his brother also provided to emergency services without mentioning that the victim was mortally wounded or that a weapon had been used.
Body-worn camera footage described by “The Independent” shows the 18-year-old telling officers he had been stabbed and could not breathe before losing consciousness. Despite resuscitation efforts, he could not be saved. Police have since apologized for the error, and the incident is under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Court Rejects Self-Defense Claim
Digwa maintained he acted in self-defense, claiming Nowak was intoxicated and had insulted him or his turban. Investigators disproved this; the student’s blood alcohol content was well below the legal driving limit. Evidence, including CCTV, forensic analysis, and the victim’s phone found in Digwa’s pocket, suggested the confrontation began over the theft of the phone.
On May 28, a jury found Vickrum Digwa guilty of murder. On June 1, he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years before he can apply for parole.
Prime Minister Condemns Senseless Murder
Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the case on X, labeling it “terrible and shocking.” He acknowledged the trauma the victim’s family endured during the trial while facing “abhorrent claims” from the killer.
Starmer confirmed that the IOPC is investigating the police response to the killing. He emphasized the necessity of breaking the cycle of violence by addressing the threat of knife crime, noting that the loss continues to affect the student’s family, friends, and the city of Southampton.
A Call for Justice and Remembrance
Judge William Mousley highlighted that Henry Nowak was defenseless and found no evidence of racist remarks by the victim. The judge noted that Digwa’s actions incited racial tensions and brought shame upon his own family and religion.
Henry’s father, Mark, stated in court that his son “did not die with dignity,” while his sister, Olivia, remembered him as a kind and wise individual. The family stated that no sentence would ever restore Henry’s life.
