Arabic version: فيكروم ديغوا يُحكم عليه بالسجن مدى الحياة بتهمة قتل طالب
Vickrum Digwa, a 23-year-old man, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who was stabbed to death in Southampton on 3 December. Digwa was given a minimum term of 21 years after using a 21cm (8in) blade, which he claimed was part of his Sikh faith, to attack Nowak, a first-year student at the University of Southampton.
According to BBC News, the incident occurred while Nowak was walking home alone from a night out with friends. Digwa initially lied to police, alleging that he had acted in self-defense after being racially abused by Nowak. However, Judge William Mousley KC rejected these claims, stating that Digwa’s actions had stirred up racial tension in Southampton and across the country, bringing shame upon his family and religion.
During the trial, bodycam footage was shown to the court, depicting the moments after the attack. In the footage, Nowak can be heard pleading for help, stating that he had been stabbed and was struggling to breathe. Despite these urgent cries, police handcuffed Nowak as he lay dying, leading to public outcry regarding the police’s response to the emergency.
The victim’s father, Mark Nowak, expressed deep anguish over the treatment of his son compared to Digwa, who was not handcuffed at the scene. He called for a thorough investigation into the police’s handling of the situation, emphasizing that Nowak did not receive the dignity and care he deserved in his final moments. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for further examination of the case.
In addition to Digwa’s life sentence, his mother, Kiran Kaur, was found guilty of assisting an offender for attempting to hide the murder weapon. She is set to be sentenced on 17 July. The Sikh Federation has condemned the portrayal of the knife used in the murder, arguing it was not a religious weapon. This case has sparked widespread discussion on knife crime and the implications of current laws surrounding the carrying of knives in public.
