Vickrum Digwa, who stabbed 18-year-old Henry Nowak five times with his religious knife in the UK, has been sentenced to life imprisonment, concluding a high-profile case that garnered global attention. The incident occurred in December 2025 in Southampton, where Hampshire Police initially handcuffed Nowak as he lay dying, after Digwa claimed he had been racially abused by the student.
Trial and Sentencing
During the trial, the Sikh Federation criticized the Crown Prosecution Service for calling the knife a 'kirpan', calling it a "massive blunder." As the sentence was handed down, shouting erupted between families and friends. The judge told Digwa, "You have brought shame upon your family and your religion. Your actions have stirred up racial tension in Southampton and across the country, which have made many Sikhs worried about their safety." The judge added, "You bear some responsibility for the offence committed by your mother... when you asked her to take the murder weapon away from you. Your mother has remained in custody for the past seven months."
Timeline of the Murder Case
December 3, 2025 – The Attack
Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old University of Southampton finance student, was walking home after a night out with football teammates in the Portswood area of Southampton. He encountered Vickrum Digwa, then 22, who was carrying a knife. A confrontation followed, with evidence later showing Digwa told Nowak, “I am a bad man” before stabbing him five times, including a fatal wound to the heart. When police arrived, Digwa claimed he had been racially abused and assaulted. Officers initially handcuffed Nowak before realizing he had suffered critical stab wounds. He died at the scene.
December 8, 2025 – Murder Charge
Hampshire Police charged Vickrum Digwa with murder. The case attracted national attention due to the circumstances surrounding the police response.
Early 2026 – Investigation and Prosecution
Prosecutors alleged that Digwa had fabricated claims of racial abuse to portray himself as the victim. Investigators also accused Digwa's mother, Kiran Kaur, of helping remove the weapon from the scene after the attack.
May 28, 2026 – Guilty Verdict
A jury at Southampton Crown Court found Digwa guilty of murder and of carrying a bladed weapon in public. His mother Kaur was found guilty of assisting an offender. During the trial, the judge rejected Digwa's claim that Nowak had made racist remarks. Hampshire Police publicly apologized for handcuffing Nowak after the stabbing.
June 1, 2026 – Sentencing
Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of about 20–21 years before parole eligibility. The judge described Nowak as “principled and full of promise” and said he was unarmed and defenseless during the attack.
