Vickrum Digwa jailed for life, 20-year minimum for Henry Nowak murder

Vickrum Digwa was jailed for life for murdering Henry Nowak in Southampton, with a minimum term of 20 years before he can be considered for parole. Digwa, 23, stabbed the 18-year-old five times after Nowak was walking home from a night out with his football team.

Mousley KC sentencing

Judge Mousley KC told Digwa: "You have brought shame on your family, your community and your religion. Your actions have stirred up racial tension, which has made many Sikhs worried about their safety." He also said: "I am sure Henry said nothing racist."

The judge said Nowak was alone and unarmed on the night of the attack. He described him as principled and full of promise. Digwa is from Southampton, while Nowak was from Essex.

Digwa's knife claim

At the sentencing hearing on Monday, Jeremy Wainwright KC said Digwa had not gone out that night intending to use the knife as a weapon and had no criminal record. Nicholas Lobbenberg KC told Southampton crown court that Digwa wore a small kirpan under his clothing around his neck, met his religious obligation, and also chose to carry a much larger 21cm knife.

Lobbenberg described the killing as a "sustained attack on an unarmed man" and said Digwa was "a man with a weapon obsession." He told the jury that Digwa was skilled with weapons, trained with weapons, sleeps with weapons, and searches for weapons on his phone.

Southampton police response

Police in Southampton arrested and handcuffed the University of Southampton student after Digwa falsely claimed Nowak had racially abused him and knocked his turban off. Hampshire police have apologised for their actions, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the incident.

Mark Nowak said Henry was the oldest of four children and that he took him to university a few weeks before he was murdered. He added: "I couldn’t help Henry in his final moments and there is nothing I can do to bring him back" and "I’m so sorry that I let this happen."