Knife Attack Case: Sikh Convicted for Stabbing Teen

A Sikh man, Vickram Digwa, has been convicted following a brutal attack on a teenager in the UK. The incident left 18-year-old Henry Nowak dead after an unprovoked assault.

On December 3, 2025, as Nowak made his way home to Portswood, England, after a casual night out with his soccer team, he was attacked by Digwa. Reportedly, the young man was simply singing to himself and sharing videos on Snapchat when he encountered Digwa.

The attack was shocking; Digwa allegedly stabbed Nowak multiple times with an eight-inch knife, a weapon that was later hidden by Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, to assist him.

When authorities arrived, the situation was confused. Digwa and members of his family insisted he was the victim, claiming that Nowak, who was bleeding heavily, had attacked first by tearing off Digwa’s turban.

Despite being severely injured, Nowak was handcuffed by police, who only removed the restraints after realizing the gravity of his injuries. They later expressed dismay at their initial response.

During the trial, the jury dismissed Digwa’s claims, finding him guilty of murder and illegal possession of a knife. His mother was also convicted for aiding him.

Prosecutor Nicholas Robenberg emphasized in his closing remarks that Digwa chose to carry a weapon and had a history of associating with them, contrary to his claims of victimhood.

Robenberg further argued that Digwa’s allegations of racism were a manipulation to justify his violent actions, insisting that the case was fundamentally about murder, not prejudice.

Sentencing for Digwa is scheduled for Monday.

The police’s handling of the situation has prompted an apology from Robert France, interim deputy chief constable, who mentioned that the timing of their actions might not have saved Nowak but acknowledged the mishandling of the situation.

Calls for accountability have emerged, with public figures, including Elon Musk and Tommy Robinson, criticizing the police for how they managed the scene. An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct is now underway.

In response to the events, the British Sikh Federation issued a statement regarding the complexities surrounding knife laws and religious exemptions for Sikhs, clarifying that these exemptions do not permit the use of knives in acts of violence.