Henry Nowak murder conviction and police apology spark UK debate

On 3 December 2025 in Southampton, 18‑year‑old finance student Henry Nowak was stabbed five times with an eight‑inch Sikh kirpan by 23‑year‑old Vickrum Digwa. Digwa told police he had been the victim of a racist attack, prompting officers to handcuff the visibly bleeding Nowak. He collapsed and died despite first‑aid efforts.

At Southampton Crown Court in May 2026 a jury found Digwa guilty of murder and of carrying a bladed article in public. His mother, Kiran Kaur, was convicted of assisting an offender for removing the weapon from the scene. Deputy Chief Constable Robert France publicly apologised, saying, “I am sorry that Henry couldn’t be saved that night, and I am sorry that he was handcuffed and arrested.” The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has opened an investigation into the police response. The case has drawn widespread criticism, political comments and an offer from tech billionaire Elon Musk to fund a private prosecution against the police. Sentencing is scheduled for June 2026 for Digwa and July 2026 for his mother.