Sikh Man Found Guilty of Murder in Student’s Death

A Sikh man, claiming to be a victim of a racially motivated attack, has been convicted of murdering student Henry Nowak. Nowak’s death attracted attention when it was revealed he was handcuffed and ignored by police while he bled out.

A jury at Southampton Crown Court in Hampshire, England, found 23-year-old Vickram Digwa guilty of murder and possession of a knife in a public space. Digwa had initially misled authorities about repeatedly stabbing a teenage boy, asserting that the victim had subjected him to racial abuse. The police later apologized for taking Digwa’s fabricated account seriously, underscoring the tragic circumstances of Nowak’s last moments, which were marked by distress as he tried to explain his injuries to officers.

After the verdict, an anti-“two-tier policing” protest was scheduled outside Southampton Central Police Station, highlighting concerns that police may be too quick to believe claims of racism while overlooking clear evidence of violent crimes.

The jury, comprised of eight women and four men, deliberated during their lunch break on Wednesday. In addition to his conviction, Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, was also found guilty of assisting in concealing the murder weapon by hiding it in their home.

The BBC reported that Digwa exhibited no emotional response upon hearing the guilty verdict, while Kaur appeared shaken, with sobs heard from those in the courtroom.

The judge plans to sentence Digwa on Monday, while Kaur’s sentencing will take place later, on July 17, to allow for preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Nowak and Digwa crossed paths in Southampton on December 3, 2025. The court heard that Nowak, a student of accounting and finance, had been socializing with friends but was not intoxicated at the time of the incident. An argument escalated, leading Digwa to chase Nowak and stab him multiple times, including a severe wound to his chest.

Though some of Digwa’s family arrived shortly after the attack, police were informed of a racially charged incident but were not informed of the stabbing initially. Upon their arrival, the officers mistakenly arrested Nowak, disregarding his claims of being stabbed until they could see he was critically injured. Attempts were made to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Body camera footage shown during the trial revealed Nowak being restrained by Digwa’s father, who accused him of faking his injuries. As Nowak struggled to breathe, the police did not initially acknowledge the severity of his situation.

A police spokeswoman later expressed regret over the handling of the incident, stating that officers acted based on misrepresented information. She quoted a pathologist who stated that, even had they believed Nowak, there was little they could have done given the severity of his injuries.

Interim Deputy Chief Constable Robert France mentioned that Hampshire Police has alerted the Independent Office for Police Conduct about the case, and an independent investigation is currently in progress. He expressed deep sorrow over Nowak’s death, emphasizing that it is an indescribable tragedy for his family.

France also reflected on the confusion regarding the night of the incident, suggesting significant gaps in understanding led to the tragic outcome. He conveyed sympathy for the victim, highlighting the distressing nature of Nowak’s treatment leading up to his loss of consciousness.

Reform UK’s Justice Spokesperson Robert Jenrick called for a full disclosure of the events surrounding the case, demanding that police footage be made public. He labeled the handling of Nowak’s situation a national scandal and questioned the repeated inclination of authorities to prioritize racial allegations over clear factual evidence.

In a letter to the government, Jenrick sought insights into why racial dynamics appear to influence police enforcement, noting the silence of senior officials on other fatal incidents involving law enforcement both domestically and internationally. He echoed calls for accountability for the officers involved in handcuffing the dying Nowak, a sentiment shared by prominent figures such as Elon Musk, who has expressed intentions to support legal actions against law enforcement misconduct.