Henry Nowak murder sparks UK outrage after killer sentenced

On December 3 2025, 18‑year‑old Henry Nowak was fatally stabbed in Southampton during an altercation with Vickram Digwa, a British Sikh man. Digwa later called his parents; his mother hid the weapon and his brother reported to police that Digwa had been subjected to a racial attack.

On 1 June 2024, Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment. Body‑camera and phone footage released after the sentencing showed Hampshire police handcuffing the mortally wounded Nowak and arresting him, prompting widespread public outrage and criticism of the police response to the incident. The case has fueled a broader debate over how accusations of racism influence law‑enforcement actions in the UK.