New details outline what happened to Henry Nowak, following a f4tal incident in Southampton involving Vickrum Digwa
KNIFED TO DEATH
What happened to Henry Nowak? A timeline of the case – and when he was killed by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton
HENRY Nowak was brutally murdered by a Sikh man with an eight-inch blade after a night out.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, knifed the first year student, 18, five times in a bloody attack as the teen made his way home in Southampton last December.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, knifed the first year student, 18, five timesCredit: PA
Finance student Henry was on his way home from a night out when he was stabbedCredit: PA
On Monday, Digwa was jailed for life for Henry’s murder – but the chilling case has sparked fury from the public and politicians alike.
Shocking bodycam footage showed cops ignoring the teen’s pleas for help and arresting him as Digwa accused his victim of making racist remarks.
Sir Keir Starmer said he “felt sick” watching the harrowing clip, adding that there were “serious questions” for police to answer.
And last night, bricks, bottles and bins were hurled at riot cops in vicious clashes after a protest over Henry’s murder turned violent.
When was Henry Nowak killed by Vickrum Digwa?
Finance student Henry – who studied at the University of Southampton -was on his way home from a night out when he was stabbed by Digwa.
Digwa was heard saying “I’m a bad man”, moments before slaughtering his victim with an eight-inch blade on December 3, 2025.
The attacker then filmed the dying teen as he tried to flee over a fence while leaving a trail of blood and shouting “I’m going to die“.
And when police arrived at the scene, Digwa accused his victim of making racist remarks in a twisted lie that prompted cops to arrest Henry instead.
Bodycam footage showed cops ignoring the teen’s pleas for help and arresting himCredit: PA
Digwa accused his victim of making racist remarks in a twisted lieCredit: PA
Bodycam footage shows the student telling cops several times that he had been stabbed – only for one to say “I don’t think you have, mate”.
The teenager was even heard in the clip saying “I can’t breathe” as well as “I’ve been stabbed” – but officers continued to arrest him.
He tragically died just one hour after the video was taken.
There were four officers present at the scene at the time of Henry’s arrest – one of whom has now resigned.
What happened in the Henry Nowak murder trial?
Southampton Crown Court heard Digwa accused Henry of making racist remarks in a “wicked lie” as cops arrived.
Digwa denied murder and possession of a bladed article, but was found guilty of murder and carrying a knife in public.
Nicholas Lobbenberg KC, prosecuting, told jurors Digwa was highly familiar with weapons and “liked” blades.
He claimed Digwa lied about the circumstances leading up to the attack and falsely painted Henry as drunk and aggressive.
The court heard Digwa’s mother allegedly took the blade from him after the stabbing.
She hid it at the family home alongside what prosecutors described as “an arsenal of weapons” . She was found guilty of assisting an offender.
Digwa described the blade he had stabbed Henry with as a “Shastar” – the Punjabi word for weapon.
Under UK law, Sikhs have a legal defence for wearing a small, curved blade – known as a kirpan – close to their body for religious purposes.
Digwa’s mother allegedly took the blade and hid it at the family homeCredit: PA
Henry’s dad Mark told how he would be haunted forever by his son’s murderCredit: PA
Digwa had a small kirpan around his neck, but the blade he used to murder Henry was much larger – around 21cm.
Sentencing Digwa, Judge Mousley KC said: “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.”
In a moving victim impact statement, Henry’s mum Lucy Ross described the pain of his death as being “beyond anything I knew existed”.
She added: “Our family will never be the same. We’re trying to find a way to live with this as our new normal. But nothing about it feels normal.”
Henry’s dad Mark told how he would be haunted forever by his son’s murder.
He broke down in tears as he continued: “As a father, it is my job to protect my child and I failed to keep him safe.
“I was not there when he needed me most. The thought of him lying in the road, scared, bleeding to death will haunt me forever.”
cre: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/39293830/henry-nowak-vickrum-digwa-murder-southampton/
