Three additional individuals have been accused of engaging in violent behavior during demonstrations in Southampton this week after the tragic killing of Henry Nowak, bringing the total number of charged individuals to 14, as confirmed by Hampshire Police.
Darren Medhurst, 36, residing on Carnation Road in Southampton; Jordan Hambleton, 19, from Rollesbrook Gardens in Southampton; and Callum Darch, 27, living on St Blaize Road in Romsey, were formally charged with violent disorder, according to a statement released by Hampshire Police.
All three individuals are scheduled to make their court appearance at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
The charges stem from the protests that ensued following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa, 23, who received a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years in prison for the murder of 18-year-old Mr. Nowak in December.
Tensions escalated after a video captured by police body cameras showed Mr. Nowak being handcuffed just before losing consciousness and subsequently passing away.
The demonstrations occurred near the location where the student was fatally stabbed, with Digwa asserting that he was a victim of a racist attack while Mr. Nowak was restrained by police, despite his pleas for help as he struggled to breathe.
Earlier in the week, eleven individuals were charged with disorder following a protest in Southampton that turned violent due to the police response to Nowak’s death.
Hampshire Police had intended to release a statement to combat misinformation during the trial related to Henry Nowak’s killer but were advised by the Crown Prosecution Service that it could potentially impact the case negatively.
There were concerns about online commentary and the possibility of public disorder, prompting Hampshire Police to seek guidance from the CPS on communicating that they would address inquiries after the trial concluded.
The statement detailed the court case process, emphasized the importance of not prejudicing legal proceedings with published content, and assured the public that the police would address questions post-trial.
A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service stressed the necessity of safeguarding the trial’s integrity and cautioning against referencing evidence prematurely before it was presented in court.
Hampshire Police refrained from releasing the statement following advice from the CPS, as they noticed a significant amount of misinformation circulating online after the trial’s commencement.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is currently investigating Hampshire Police’s response in Mr. Nowak’s case.
Mr. Nowak’s father, Mark, expressed the family’s desire to prevent his death from fueling further division or tension, although the police’s treatment of the student has sparked a political debate.