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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Rachael Burford

Six more people charged over Henry Nowak murder protests in Southampton

Police and protesters in Southampton during a protest following the death of Henry Nowak - (PA Wire)

Six more people have been charged with violent disorder in relation to protests following the murder of student Henry Nowak.

It comes after demonstrations following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa, 23, to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 21 years, for the murder of the 18-year-old in December.

Anger erupted after police body-worn video was released showing Mr Nowak being placed in handcuffs moments before he became unconscious and subsequently died.

The treatment of the 18-year-old triggered a political row, with the Prime Minister urging politicians to heed the teenager’s relatives’ calls not to use the case “to cause disturbances”.

Eleven people have now been charged over the disorder in Southampton.

Henry Nowak, 18, died after suffering a stab wound to the chest while on a night out (PA Media)
Henry Nowak, 18, died after suffering a stab wound to the chest while on a night out (PA Media)

US Vice President JD Vance blamed the killing on “the mass invasion of migrants” and said there should be “righteous anger” in response.

The extraordinary comments triggered a response from Downing Street, which hit out at “people trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division on our streets”.

Violent protests erupted near where the student was fatally stabbed, after Digwa claimed he had been the victim of a racial attack, while Mr Nowak was handcuffed by police who ignored his pleas that he could not breathe as he lay dying.

Harry Varney, 34, of Briarswood, Southampton; Taylor Grundy, 22, of Gosport; Dillon Crawford, 29, of Wilton Avenue, Southampton; and Andrew Summerhayes, 38, of Banning Street, Romsey, appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

They all admitted violent disorder and Summerhayes also pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

In a separate hearing, Kevin Reeves, 31, of Portswood Road, Southampton, and Andrew Riddett, 38, of Seacombe Green, Southampton, entered no plea to charges of violent disorder.

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