A man has been sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing a university student in Southampton. Vickrum Digwa, 23, attacked 18-year-old Henry Nowak, leading to his tragic death. The incident occurred on Belmont Road on December 3, 2025, when Henry was stabbed multiple times, resulting in a fatal wound to his heart.
Prior to the murder, Digwa was captured on video confessing to Henry, “I am a bad man.” He later falsely claimed that he was the victim of a racist assault by Henry, who he alleged had racially abused him and attacked him first. The court found Digwa guilty of murder and carrying a bladed weapon in public. Additionally, his mother, Kiran Kaur, was convicted of assisting an offender by removing the weapon from the crime scene.
During the sentencing at Southampton Crown Court, Digwa was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years. Following the verdict, a heated altercation erupted between the families and friends of both the victim and the perpetrator, requiring security intervention.
The victim’s father, Mark Nowak, emotionally expressed the family’s devastation at losing their beloved son during the sentencing hearing. He highlighted the pain of not knowing the exact circumstances of his son’s death, emphasizing the profound impact of the tragedy on their lives.
Elon Musk, the tech billionaire, offered to fund a private prosecution against the police in response to the incident. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is currently investigating the handling of the case. Prosecutors revealed that Digwa, who had a history of weapon training, had a fascination with knives and was found to possess multiple weapons. Despite the fact that Sikhs are allowed to carry a kirpan knife, Digwa chose to carry two knives, one of which was openly displayed and used in the fatal attack.
Mark Nowak demanded a thorough investigation into the police’s actions following his son’s murder, urging for transparency and justice. He criticized the treatment of his son by law enforcement, stating that Henry’s calls for help were disregarded, and he was wrongly arrested instead of receiving medical assistance.
Henry’s sister, Olivia, addressed Digwa directly in court, expressing that her brother would never harm anyone and describing their close relationship. The family holds Digwa accountable for the brutal killing of Henry but condemns the police for their handling of the situation, emphasizing the disparity in treatment between the victim and the perpetrator.
The tragic incident has left a lasting impact on the Nowak family, seeking closure and justice for their beloved son.
