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A university student was fatally stabbed with a ceremonial blade, and the man responsible has been convicted of murder. The incident involved 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, who used a 21cm knife, which he claimed to carry as part of his Sikh faith, to kill 18-year-old Henry Nowak. The tragic attack occurred as Henry was walking home in Southampton on the evening of 3 December.
During the trial at Southampton Crown Court, Digwa asserted that he acted in self-defense, alleging that Nowak had directed a racist insult at him, assaulted him, and removed his turban. The court, however, dismissed this claim, determining that Digwa’s account was untruthful. The jury consequently found him guilty of murder. In addition to the murder conviction, Digwa was also found guilty of carrying a knife in public. His mother, Kiran Kaur, was convicted of assisting an offender. Kaur appeared visibly distressed as the verdict was announced, while Digwa remained impassive.
The circumstances around the police response have drawn scrutiny. Following the death, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) because officers initially handcuffed and arrested Nowak as he lost consciousness, unaware of his fatal injuries. Robert France, the temporary deputy chief constable, expressed regret over the events and explained that officers were misled by Digwa during the emergency call and were faced with a highly complicated crime scene. He stressed, “They were lied to in the 999 call by Henry’s killer, they were lied to as they arrived at the scene and we know that as a result they didn’t understand what had happened for several minutes and that is an absolute tragedy.”
The court heard details about the attack: Nowak, a first-year accountancy and finance student from Essex, was returning after a night out with friends. Digwa was carrying the blade in a sheath around his neck on Belmont Road at around 23:30 GMT. Though the stabbing was not directly witnessed, neighbors reported hearing Nowak say he was dying from stab wounds. After being attacked multiple times—including fatal wounds to his chest and other injuries to his legs and face—Nowak attempted to flee by climbing over a fence, leaving a trail of blood behind. Digwa later handed the knife to his mother, and police recovered it at their home along with over twenty other Sikh weapons.
Following the verdict, the Sikh Federation UK released a statement expressing sorrow and condemning the violent act. They emphasized that the large blade used in this case was not a traditional Kirpan, which Sikh individuals might carry as part of their religious practice. The statement also acknowledged the challenges the Sikh community has faced, including misunderstanding around the legal status and significance of the Kirpan, and reaffirmed the community’s commitment to fostering understanding and recognizing the serious responsibilities involved in carrying religious blades.
Henry Nowak’s family paid tribute to their late son, describing him as “kind, intelligent and talented,” who had been fully engaged in university life and enjoyed time with his football teammates on the night of his death. They expressed profound grief over the loss of their son, saying, “Our hearts ache when we think of the bright future he had ahead of him, full of opportunity and adventures.” They concluded by stating their pride in Henry’s achievements and acknowledged the permanent impact of his absence on their lives
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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