Vickrum Digwa Jailed for Life Over Ceremonial Knife Murder of Student Henry Nowak

A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of an 18-year-old university student.

Vickrum Digwa was handed the mandatory life sentence at Southampton Crown Court by Judge William Mousley KC for the fatal stabbing of Henry Nowak during a street confrontation last December. The defendant was also sentenced for carrying a bladed article.

The court heard that Digwa, who was carrying a traditional kirpan alongside a secondary illegal knife, drew the weapon after a brief verbal exchange. Mr Nowak, a university student from Essex returning to his accommodation after a night out, had "perhaps cheekily" asked Digwa if he was a "bad man" while filming on his phone.

The judge described this as a "tragic error of judgement" but noted the teenager's tone was not aggressive or threatening. Digwa confidently replied, "I am a bad man," and deliberately stabbed the completely defenceless student.

The blade passed upward through soft tissue between the top ribs, catching a lung and severing a vital vein behind the collarbone. Pathologists confirmed the fatal strike was entirely unfavourable to survival, as no emergency medical treatment could have accessed the severed vein.

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Instead of calling for medical assistance, Digwa used his phone camera to film the dying teenager as he desperately scaled a neighbouring fence and collapsed onto a parked vehicle.

Aggravating and Mitigating Factors

Judge Mousley KC highlighted several aggravating features that initially pushed the minimum term to 23 years, including Digwa's calculated attempts to lie to the police, his efforts to cover up the crime scene, and the significant community impact. The judge firmly condemned the defendant for falsely claiming self-defence and alleging the victim had shouted racist abuse, punched him, and knocked off his turban.

"Your actions have stirred up racial tension in Southampton and across the country which have made many Sikhs worried about their safety," the judge stated, adding that Digwa had brought shame upon his family and religion by misusing a symbol of faith for violence.

The court heard there was no independent medical or forensic evidence to support Digwa's claims of sustaining a bruised and swollen eye. Furthermore, medical evidence confirmed Mr Nowak's blood alcohol level was safely below the legal driving limit, directly contradicting the defendant's narrative that a drunk student barged into him.

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Digwa's lies at the scene led to attending police officers handcuffing the dying teenager. The prosecution submitted that Mr Nowak died "alone, humiliated and handcuffed" as a direct result of the defendant's dishonesty. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has an ongoing investigation into the actions of the responding force.

The baseline sentence was reduced by two years to 21 years to reflect mitigating factors presented by defence counsel Jeremy Wainwright KC, including Digwa's young age, previous good character, and the argument that he had no premeditated intention to commit a crime that night.

The judge also told Digwa he bears responsibility for the imprisonment of his 53-year-old mother, Kiran Kaur. Kaur, who was found guilty of assisting an offender by hiding the murder weapon, has remained in custody for seven months and was not present in the public gallery during sentencing.

Victim Impact and Courtroom Aftermath

Before the sentence was passed, the court heard devastating victim impact statements. Henry’s father, Mark Nowak, described a "Henry-shaped hole" in the family and spoke of his torment over his son's final moments. The victim's mother, Lucy Ross, detailed the "unimaginable pain" of breaking the news to Henry's grandparents.

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Henry's stepfather, David Stevenson, remembered him as a mature, risk-averse, and thoughtful young man. His sister, Olivia Novak, addressed the killer directly from the courtroom, stating: "If you had known Henry, you would never have hurt him."

Immediately after Digwa was led down to the cells, an angry verbal confrontation erupted between members of the two families in the public gallery. Fourteen police officers flooded the main foyer of the courthouse to manage the dispute, as reporters and observers gathered on the steps outside to await a formal statement from the Nowak family.