The father of a student who was fatally stabbed by an individual obsessed with knives expressed deep anguish over his son’s final moments. Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to 21 years in prison for the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in a prolonged street assault. Digwa falsely claimed self-defense, alleging that Henry had racially insulted him, punched him, and knocked off his turban.
Henry, who had five stab wounds, was disregarded by the police, leading to a harrowing and solitary death as he lay handcuffed, pleading for help. Mark, Henry’s father, confronted Digwa in court, sharing the devastating impact of losing his son and lamenting his inability to protect him.
Describing Henry as an innocent and beloved individual, Mark expressed profound regret and a desire to trade places with his son. In sentencing Digwa to life imprisonment, Judge William Mousley KC condemned the irreparable loss inflicted on Henry’s loved ones and the community.
Henry, a finance student, was attacked by Digwa while returning home from a night out in Southampton on December 3, 2025. The possession of knives, as emphasized by Judge Mousley, is not a mandatory aspect of Sikhism, and the misuse of such symbolic items for offensive purposes is condemned.
Prosecutors characterized Digwa as fixated on weaponry, having displayed a pattern of obsession and readiness for violent actions. The court heard how Digwa fabricated false accusations to justify his heinous crime, causing additional distress to Henry’s grieving family.
Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, was found guilty of aiding the perpetrator by concealing the murder weapon. Henry’s family emphasized his intolerance for discrimination and bullying, emphasizing the profound impact of his untimely death on their lives.
Henry’s sister Olivia described the shattered bond with her brother and the enduring pain of losing him at a young age. She conveyed a sense of irreplaceable loss and the injustice of Henry being denied the chance to live a full life.
Despite the defense’s claims of the incident being sudden and unintended, the court condemned Digwa’s actions and the subsequent investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct revealed discrepancies in the case handling.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Deputy Chief Constable Robert France expressed remorse for the handling of the situation and the failure to save Henry. The culmination of the trial marked a verdict of murder against Digwa, underscoring the tragic consequences of his violent actions.
