Arabic version: عائلة الطالب القتيل تطالب باتخاذ إجراءات ضد جرائم السكاكين

The family of murdered student, Henry Nowak, said they will carry their grief “every single day” for the rest of their lives and have called on the government to treat knife crime as a “national emergency.” This plea followed the sentencing of 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, who received a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years for using a 21cm (8in) blade to stab the 18-year-old in Southampton in December.

According to BBC News, the Nowak family described the police’s treatment of Henry as “inhumane and degrading” after he was handcuffed while lying critically injured. Hampshire police have since apologized for their actions, acknowledging the distress caused to the victim’s family.

During the sentencing at Southampton Crown Court, Judge William Mousley KC emphasized that Digwa’s actions had exacerbated racial tensions in the community and instilled fear among local Sikhs. The judge assured that there was no evidence Henry had made any racist remarks towards Digwa.

Henry’s family, including his father Mark and sister Olivia, shared their profound sorrow in court. Olivia described her brother as her “best friend” and expressed the deep pain of losing him. Mark Nowak conveyed gratitude towards the murder investigation team for securing justice for his son, despite the tragic circumstances surrounding his death.

The case has drawn significant attention, with public figures like Sir Keir Starmer commenting on the urgent need to address the issue of knife crime. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has committed to implementing recommendations from the Independent Office for Police Conduct regarding the police response to the incident.