The murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak by 23-year-old Vickrum Singh Digwa has ignited national outrage across the United Kingdom after police bodycam footage revealed the Southampton student being handcuffed moments after he was stabbed. The incident has triggered widespread protests and drawn reactions from prominent figures, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.
Details of the Attack
Nowak, a first-year student at the University of Southampton, was stabbed five times by Digwa on December 3, 2025, while walking home after a night out with friends. Following the attack, Digwa allegedly claimed he had been racially abused and assaulted. When police officers arrived at the scene, they handcuffed Nowak despite his repeated pleas that he had been stabbed and could not breathe. The bodycam footage captured Nowak saying, "I've been stabbed" and "I can't breathe." Officers later realized he had suffered catastrophic stab wounds and began CPR, but Nowak died shortly after midnight.
Police Investigation and Charges
The day after the stabbing, police searched the Digwa family home and recovered multiple offensive weapons, including swords, machetes, flick knives, and knuckledusters. Investigators alleged that Digwa's mother, Kiran Kaur, had removed and concealed the murder weapon. On December 8, 2025, Hampshire Police charged Digwa with murder and possession of a bladed article.
In early 2026, more than 650 mourners attended Nowak's funeral at Brentwood Cathedral. Prosecutors alleged that Digwa fabricated racial abuse claims to portray himself as the victim. A covertly recorded conversation allegedly captured Digwa discussing the stabbing and agreeing to claim self-defence.
Trial and Conviction
Digwa's murder trial began at Southampton Crown Court in May 2026. On May 28, 2026, a jury found Digwa guilty of murder and carrying a bladed weapon in public. Kiran Kaur was convicted of assisting an offender. Jurors rejected Digwa's claims of racial abuse and self-defence.
On June 1, 2026, Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years. The judge described Nowak as unarmed and defenceless. Hampshire Police apologized for handcuffing the teenager after the stabbing. The following day, Digwa appeared in court on separate weapons charges, and his father, Moga Singh, and brother, Gurpreet Digwa, also faced weapons-related charges.
Release of Bodycam Footage and Protests
In June 2026, the bodycam footage from the night of the killing was released, triggering widespread outrage across the UK. "Justice for Henry Nowak" rallies were held in Southampton, with demonstrators demanding accountability for the police response. Disorder erupted during some protests, leaving police officers injured.
Public anger intensified after details of the case and the footage emerged. Hundreds gathered in Southampton, calling for accountability and greater scrutiny of the police response. The case soon entered the political arena. Nigel Farage and Rupert Lowe repeatedly raised concerns about the handling of the incident, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer met members of Nowak's family and pledged that lessons would be learned. Tech billionaire Elon Musk also commented on the case on social media, drawing international attention to the controversy.
Post-Sentencing Developments
After sentencing, the Attorney General's Office received requests to review Digwa's sentence under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme. Prime Minister Starmer described the case as "awful" and "shocking." As protests intensified, the Nowak family urged supporters to seek justice through lawful means and not allow Henry's death to become a source of division.
