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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Holly Patrick

Starmer says he felt ‘sick’ watching Henry Nowak handcuffed as he lay dying

Sir Keir Starmer has said he “felt sick” watching police handcuff student Henry Nowak as he lay dying.

The 18-year-old was handcuffed as he lay dying after being fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton in December 2025.

Digwa, 23, told police that he had been the victim of a racist attack.

In body-worn video, Mr Nowak repeats “I’ve been stabbed” and then “I can’t breathe” while he is made to sit up to be handcuffed. He was told he was being arrested for assault.

An officer asks: “You’ve been stabbed, whereabouts?” before adding: “Don’t think you have, mate.”

The prime minister said the footage was “harrowing”, adding: “I have to say, as a father of a 17-year-old boy, I felt sick watching it.”

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