Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
Bodycam footage has emerged showing Southampton university student Henry Nowak, aged 18, handcuffed by police while he pleaded for help after being fatally stabbed. Despite repeatedly telling officers, “I can’t breathe,” and reporting multiple stab wounds, the footage reveals a concerning response from the attending officers. Nowak’s killer, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, initially deceived the police at the scene by claiming he was the victim of a racist assault.
The Attorney General’s office is currently reviewing Digwa’s sentence following numerous requests for reconsideration under the unduly lenient sentence scheme. The case has provoked public outrage, especially regarding the police’s conduct at the scene. Nowak’s father, Mark, expressed deep frustration, recounting that Henry told officers nine times about his breathing difficulties and four times that he had been stabbed. Mark highlighted a troubling exchange where one officer responded, “I don’t think you have mate.”
During the trial, it was revealed that Digwa fabricated a story to the police, alleging he had suffered racist abuse and was the victim rather than the perpetrator. Bodycam footage allowed a glimpse into the harrowing moments after the attack: Nowak, gravely injured with two stab wounds to the back of his legs and a fatal chest wound, can be heard saying, “I’ve been stabbed” as officers handcuffed him while he lay on the ground. Throughout the footage, Nowak repeatedly says, “I can’t breathe,” but officers appear skeptical, at one point telling him, “Don’t think you have, mate.” He was eventually told he was being arrested for assault, even as he became increasingly unresponsive.
The weapon used by Digwa was not a traditional kirpan, but a much larger knife, worn openly in a sheath above his clothing. While Sikhs are legally permitted to carry a small ceremonial kirpan close to their body for religious reasons, the weapon in this case was substantially bigger and unrelated to religious practice. Digwa had previously been barred from a Sikh place of worship in Southampton due to concerns regarding his behaviour well before the killing. The Sikh community has condemned the murder and clarified that the blade involved was not a kirpan. The Sikh Federation and Sikh Press Association have pledged to communicate directly with initiated Sikhs across the UK about kirpan responsibilities.
The political and public response has been intense. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for “pure cold rage” following the treatment of Nowak and criticized perceived racial disparities in the way police handle cases. Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch countered such claims, emphasizing the need for equal treatment by police officers regardless of race. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey described the murder as “evil” and compounded by the police’s inadequate response. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones labelled Nowak’s death a “national tragedy” and is advocating for a review of laws about carrying bladed objects for religious or ceremonial purposes.
Meanwhile, the officers involved remain witnesses in the investigation conducted by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Derrick Campbell, IOPC director, acknowledged public concerns over the officers’ actions and stated that their ongoing inquiry involves analyzing extensive body-worn camera footage alongside other evidence from the murder trial to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the case. Nowak’s family has spoken out about the lack of dignity afforded to Henry in his final moments, while Digwa’s family has issued an apology to the Nowak family and the Sikh community, urging that the tragedy not be exploited to create division
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.