UK outrage as Henry Nowak death video sparks claims of unequal justice
A British court sentenced Vickrum Digwa to life in prison for fatally stabbing student Henry Nowak, sparking outrage after police handcuffed the dying victim based on the killer's false self-defense claim.
According to Valeurs Actuelles, Vickrum Digwa attacked Henry Nowak on the night of December 3, 2025, as the student was returning from an evening out in Southampton. Digwa stabbed Nowak five times with a 21-centimeter blade knife, which the accused claimed he carried as part of his religious faith.
When police arrived at the scene, Digwa immediately told officers he had been the victim of a racist assault and had acted in self-defense after being insulted and struck. Convinced by this account, responding officers treated Henry Nowak as the main suspect rather than the victim.
The intervention video, released publicly following the trial, shows the young man lying on the ground weakly repeating that he could not breathe and that he had been stabbed. Despite his injuries, police handcuffed him and placed him under arrest as he progressively lost consciousness. Moments later, he died from his wounds.
Life Sentence Handed Down
This Monday, British justice sentenced Vickrum Digwa to life imprisonment with a minimum term of twenty-one years before parole eligibility. His father, Moga Singh, 52, and his brother, Gurpreet Digwa, 27, appeared separately on charges related to weapons possession discovered during a search of the family home. Among the items seized were a machete and several swords. Both men were released on bail pending a hearing scheduled for July 9.
Following the verdict, Vickrum Digwa’s family issued apologies to the victim’s family and to the Sikh community, stating that the convicted man’s actions had unjustly damaged its reputation.
Victim’s Family Demands Accountability
While Henry Nowak’s relatives praised the investigative work that led to the murderer’s conviction, they have sharply criticized the conduct of police officers during their initial response.
Mark Nowak, the victim’s father, acknowledged that investigators obtained justice for his son, for which his family would be eternally grateful. However, he stated that his son did not die with dignity.
The family is now calling for a complete, courageous and transparent investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the body responsible for overseeing British police operations. A procedure has been opened and conclusions are expected within the next three months.
National Controversy Erupts
Release of the bodycam video triggered a wave of outrage across social media platforms. Numerous users drew comparisons between Henry Nowak’s final words about being unable to breathe and those of George Floyd, who died during a police stop in the United States in 2020.
Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage seized on the case to denounce what he characterized as two-tier policing. In a video posted to X, the sovereigntist leader asserted that the rights and privileges of white people count for less than those of ethnic minorities.
Nationalist activist Tommy Robinson also reacted to the arrest footage, accusing police of treating white people as second-class citizens.
Starmer Under Pressure
As controversy mounted, Prime Minister Keir Starmer finally intervened publicly. After viewing the footage, he described it as atrocious and stated that watching it made him feel nauseated.
The government chief asked the IOPC to conduct its investigation as quickly as possible and acknowledged that police would need to answer serious questions.
His political opponents have accused him of responding too slowly. Conservative MP Chris Philp highlighted the contrast between how rapidly Starmer commented on the George Floyd case in 2020 and his initial silence regarding this incident on British soil.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned against any political exploitation of the tragedy, calling for the murder not to be allowed to fuel divisions between communities.
Southampton Demonstration
These calls for calm did not prevent a demonstration in memory of the young Briton. Tuesday evening, more than a thousand people gathered outside the Southampton police station to pay tribute to Henry Nowak and demand justice. Many participants carried signs reading “Justice for Henry.”
With information from Valeurs Actuelles
