Three additional individuals have been arrested and charged with violent behavior in Southampton following the recent protests over the killing of Henry Nowak, bringing the total number of charged individuals to 14.
According to Hampshire Police, Darren Medhurst, 36, residing on Carnation Road in Southampton; Jordan Hambleton, 19, from Rollesbrook Gardens in Southampton; and Callum Darch, 27, from St Blaize Road in Romsey, have all been accused of participating in violent disorder.
All three suspects are scheduled to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
These charges stem from demonstrations that ensued following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa, 23, to life imprisonment with a minimum of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old Mr. Nowak in December.
Tensions escalated after footage from police body cameras showed Mr. Nowak being restrained with handcuffs just before losing consciousness and later passing away.
Protests flared up near the location where the student was fatally stabbed, as Digwa alleged he was a victim of a racially motivated attack while Mr. Nowak was handcuffed by officers who reportedly disregarded his pleas for help as he was dying.
Earlier this week, eleven individuals were also charged with disorder after a protest in Southampton turned violent due to concerns over the police response to Nowak’s demise.
Hampshire Police had intended to release a statement countering “disinformation” during the trial of Henry Nowak’s killer. However, they were advised by the Crown Prosecution Service that such action might jeopardize the case.
The police department sought the CPS’s opinion on addressing the public once the trial concluded, citing worries about online commentary and potential unrest.
A spokeswoman for Hampshire Police mentioned that significant misinformation was circulating online following media reports during the trial, prompting the decision not to publish the statement based on advice from the CPS.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is currently investigating Hampshire Police’s handling of Mr. Nowak’s case.
Mr. Nowak’s father, Mark, emphasized the family’s desire to avoid further division or hostility stemming from his son’s death, although the police’s treatment of the student has sparked a political dispute.
