Southampton student Henry Nowak killed in stabbing, says ‘I’m not a racist’ before death

University of Southampton finance student Henry Nowak, 18, was stabbed repeatedly on a Southampton street on 3 December by 23‑year‑old Vickrum Digwa, who used an eight‑inch ceremonial dagger. Digwa was later convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years.

Court documents reveal that as he lay dying, Nowak repeatedly told his attacker, “I’m not a racist”. Witnesses heard the words and the victim also denied any racist abuse when his brother called police to allege a racial attack. The case sparked public outrage over police conduct after officers handcuffed Nowak while he was still alive and questioned whether the initial narrative of a racist motive was fabricated.

The trial also disclosed that police had secretly bugged the van transporting Digwa and his brother, recording Digwa’s admission that he had stabbed Nowak and his brother’s questioning of the use of a kirpan. The revelations have intensified debate about policing, race relations and the treatment of victims in the UK.