Vickrum Singh Digwa, 23, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 21 years for killing 18-year-old Henry Nowak. This tragic incident occurred on December 3, 2025, in Southampton, England, as detailed by Judge William Mousley.
According to the judge, Digwa allegedly stabbed Nowak to death while claiming he had faced racial abuse. When police arrived, they mistakenly handcuffed Nowak, who was in critical condition, leading to further complications as attempts at CPR failed. Digwa stayed at the scene, reportedly telling officers that Nowak was “exaggerating” his injuries.
In the judge’s remarks, Nowak was described as a “kind, hardworking young man” with a promising future. His family shared heart-wrenching testimonies, with his sister stating that her world crumbled after his death, and his father expressing that it felt like a lifetime sentence for their family.
Judge Mousley noted that Digwa fabricated many stories to evade accountability for the murder. On that night, Nowak was making his way back to his university after having consumed alcohol, though his blood alcohol level was below the legal driving limit. The two crossed paths, and Digwa alleged that Nowak “deliberately barged” into him, a claim Mousley dismissed as one of many deceptions.
Digwa, who is Sikh, was carrying a kirpan, a religious dagger. Nowak reportedly questioned him about being a “bad man,” to which Digwa affirmed. Mousley speculated that Digwa took offense at this comment and later snatched Nowak’s phone when a confrontation ensued over it. During this struggle, Digwa’s turban might have fallen off, possibly triggering further disrespect in his view.
At that point, Digwa allegedly drew his dagger and stabbed Nowak in the chest, followed by additional stabs to the groin and upper leg. Although Nowak suffered a cut on his face, the judge wasn’t fully convinced it was intentional.
Mousley expressed deep concern over Digwa’s behavior post-stabbing, noting that Digwa filmed Nowak trying to escape and suffering. He allegedly ignored Nowak’s desperation, even telling him he had not been stabbed to confuse potential witnesses.
When Digwa’s brother arrived, he falsely claimed to him that he had been attacked and that Nowak had hurled racial slurs. His brother faced no charges related to the murder. Mousley indicated that Digwa’s mother was involved, allegedly taking the murder weapon upon Digwa’s request, leading to her conviction for aiding an offender.
Throughout the incident, Digwa continued to spread falsehoods about Nowak, suggesting he was racist. He purportedly kept Nowak’s phone, which held significant recordings, until his arrest. In a private conversation, Digwa reportedly planned to pretend self-defense had been necessary, despite confessing to multiple stabbings.
Mousley pointed out that Digwa’s brother and he discussed maintaining a narrative of self-defense, while the circumstances suggested otherwise. The judge noted that the responding officers believed they had reasonable grounds for suspecting Nowak had committed an offense and acted accordingly.
Despite Nowak’s urgent claims of being stabbed and struggling to breathe, Mousley conceded that those details might not have accurately conveyed the critical nature of his condition. The judge defended the officers’ initial actions but expressed that they should have prioritized verifying Nowak’s claims over Digwa’s. There seemed to be a grave disparity in the urgency of their respective situations.
Ultimately, Mousley highlighted that Digwa appeared largely unharmed while Nowak lay vulnerable and injured, needing immediate attention.
