The Court of Appeal will review the sentence given to the individual responsible for fatally stabbing student Henry Nowak in Southampton. Vickrum Digwa, aged 23, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old Mr. Nowak.
Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC has referred Digwa’s sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. Expressing her dismay, she emphasized the need to address concerns regarding the police’s handling of Nowak’s murder while focusing on reviewing Digwa’s sentence for his actions.
After thorough deliberation, it has been decided to forward this case to the Court of Appeal. Reeves acknowledged that no punishment can erase the pain experienced by Nowak’s family or fill the void caused by his tragic death but hopes that this referral will contribute to delivering the justice they seek.
Digwa was recently convicted of murdering Mr. Nowak in December. The assailant, who was fixated on weapons, used an eight-inch Sikh ceremonial knife in the attack and falsely alleged that Nowak had racially insulted him. Despite Nowak’s pleas for assistance, he was left unattended as officers, misled by Digwa’s claims, restrained him.
Bodycam footage captured Nowak informing officers about being stabbed multiple times, yet one officer dismissed his claims. The footage incited public outrage and led to protests, resulting in numerous arrests for protest-related disruptions.
In 2023, Digwa had been under police investigation for allegedly stealing ceremonial blades from a Sikh temple in Southampton, although no further action was taken.
