Henry Nowak’s murderer is seeking to overturn his guilty verdict and lessen his punishment. Vickrum Digwa, aged 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for the killing of 18-year-old Henry. The solicitor general referred the case to the Court of Appeal to potentially increase the sentence.
Recently, it has been disclosed that Digwa’s legal team has filed an appeal with the same court to invalidate his conviction and reduce his prison sentence. This development has dismayed Henry’s family, who had urged for calm following the release of a video showing the student’s arrest while he was dying.
Henry was fatally stabbed multiple times in the street with an 8-inch blade, which Digwa claimed he carried due to his Sikh beliefs. Digwa alleged that Henry initiated the altercation by racially abusing him.
An official from the Court of Appeal revealed that Digwa’s case had been flagged as “unduly lenient” and that an application for appealing both the conviction and the sentence had been submitted. A single appeal court judge will determine if an appeal should be granted, with a potential hearing by three judges at the Court of Appeal Criminal Division.
Judge William Mousley KC sentenced Digwa at Southampton Crown Court on June 1. Henry’s father, Mark Nowak, expressed distress over the treatment of his son by the police compared to his attacker but emphasized the family’s desire to avoid further division or tension.
Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP expressed hope that her request to increase the sentence would bring justice to Henry’s family. The incident, which occurred on December 3, involved Henry being arrested and handcuffed by police as he lay dying, with a delay in realizing the severity of his injuries.
Digwa falsely claimed to police that Henry had assaulted and racially insulted him. The release of police body-worn video after the sentencing led to violent protests in Southampton on June 2, with two officers under investigation for potential misconduct.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who termed the case as “awful” and “shocking,” met with Henry’s family at Downing Street on June 4. Sir Keir expressed deep humility after the meeting and stressed the importance of ensuring a lasting legacy for Henry beyond the tragic incident.