The family of an 18-year-old student who died after being handcuffed, after being fatally stabbed by a Sikh man, have hit out at the “shocking” treatment of their son by police and called for urgent action to address a “national emergency” of knife crime.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was jailed for life to serve a minimum of 21 years for stabbing Henry Nowak with a ceremonial knife with a 21cm blade, which he carried as part of his religion.
He was found guilty at Southampton Crown Court of the murder of the finance student from Chafford Hundred, Essex, in Belmont Road, Southampton, on December 3 2025, and of carrying a knife in public.
Digwa was filmed by his victim telling him “I am a bad man” moments before the knife attack, which included two stab wounds to the back of Mr Nowak’s legs and a fatal wound to his heart.
Judge William Mousley KC said Digwa had a small knife hidden from view called a kirpan, which is a strict requirement for Sikhs to have at all times.
But he also possessed the bigger murder weapon, which the judge also described as a kirpan.
He said: “You are a member of an order of Sikhs called the Nihang who have a tradition of having a second knife, or kirpan, and that is often fully visible, believing that the guru will look favourably on that.
“You observed that tradition in your everyday life, at work and in public
“However, it was not a strict requirement; that is borne out by the fact that neither your brother nor father, who arrived on the scene after you had stabbed Henry, were so dressed.”
The judge told the defendant, who showed no emotion: “In addition to killing Henry, and the irreparable harm to those close to him, you have also caused real suffering to others who knew him.
“You have brought shame upon your family, your community and your religion.
“Your actions have stirred up racial tension in Southampton and across the country which have made many Sikhs worried about their own safety even though they have done absolutely nothing wrong.”
After the verdict was handed down, security officers had to step in to stop a verbal altercation which had broken out in the public gallery.
Speaking outside court, Henry’s father Mark Nowak, supported by his family, said: “We want to use Henry’s heart-breaking story to make change for the better.
“We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We want his story to help make our streets safer for everyone.
“That is why we are calling on the Government to treat knife crime as the national emergency it is.
“We need real solutions. We need investment in prevention. We need stronger action on the sale, ownership and carrying of all knives.
“And, as this case so painfully demonstrates, we need common sense applied to our laws.
“This doesn’t mean knee-jerk reactions. This doesn’t mean going to extremes. It just means a common-sense approach to law and order.
“As the KC for the prosecution summed up in court, this is not a case about Sikhism. This is not a case about racism. This is a case about murder.
“People should not be able to walk openly through the streets of Britain carrying a 21cm blade.”
Giving evidence, Digwa told the court that Mr Nowak, who he described as drunk, had racially abused him, before punching him and knocking his turban off.
He said that he had stabbed Mr Nowak to the back of his legs in self-defence after Mr Nowak had threatened him and grabbed him by the hair, but said he had not realised at the time he had caused the fatal stab wound to his chest.
But the prosecution said that Digwa had told a “wicked lie” to police who attended the scene, by telling them that he had been the victim of a racist attack.
He also “lied” by telling officers that he had not stabbed Mr Nowak, despite the student’s pleas for help as he told the police that he was injured.
This led the officers to arrest Mr Nowak, and put him in handcuffs, moments before he collapsed and became unconscious, dying despite their efforts to give him first aid.
Mr Nowak described the police treatment of his son as “shocking” and added: “The IOPC investigation remains ongoing.
“While we await its final report, we are calling on the Home Secretary to ensure that the IOPC has the resources, authority and independence it needs to conduct a full, fearless and transparent investigation.
“Our family should not have to fight for the truth any more.”
Tech billionaire Elon Musk posted on X an offer to fund a private prosecution against the police, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the circumstances of the incident.
The Prime Minister said “it is right” that the police watchdog is investigating.
