A man has been sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing a university student using a “Sikh dagger” while uttering the words “I am a bad man.” The assailant, Vickrum Digwa, 23, attacked 18-year-old Henry Nowak from Chafford Hundred, Essex, inflicting fatal wounds on him, including two stab wounds to the legs and a fatal blow to the heart on Belmont Road, Southampton, on December 3, 2025.
Digwa, captured on video confessing to being a “bad man” just moments before the murder, later falsely claimed to have been racially attacked by Henry, whom he accused of being drunk and racially abusive towards him. The incident culminated in a court ruling at Southampton Crown Court sentencing Digwa to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years.
In addition to the murder charge, Digwa was convicted of carrying a bladed weapon in public, while his mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, was found guilty of assisting an offender by removing the weapon from the crime scene. Despite Digwa’s self-defense claims, the court found him guilty of murder, highlighting his deceitful actions during and after the fatal encounter with Henry.
Following the sentencing, the victim’s family expressed their devastation at the loss of Henry. His father, Mark Nowak, emotionally described the anguish of failing to protect his son and the haunting image of Henry lying injured on the road, underscoring the profound impact of the tragic event on their family.
The prosecution revealed that Digwa, with a history of weapon training since childhood, had a disturbing affinity for knives, with a penchant for collecting and displaying them. The court also highlighted the misuse of the kirpan knife, a traditional Sikh item, in the brutal killing, emphasizing the defendant’s deliberate choice to carry multiple weapons.
Amid calls for a thorough investigation into the police handling of the case, Henry’s family demanded transparency and accountability in the pursuit of justice for their son. They criticized the treatment Henry received from the authorities, citing instances of disbelief and mistreatment despite his desperate pleas for help, contrasting it with the leniency afforded to his murderer.
The emotional impact of the tragedy was further echoed by Henry’s sister, Olivia, who shared heartfelt memories of their close bond and emphasized the irreplaceable loss caused by Digwa’s actions. The family’s quest for truth and justice underscores the enduring pain and injustice resulting from the senseless act of violence.