Vickrum Digwa, 23, who was convicted for the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton in December, is seeking to appeal both his conviction and his 21-year minimum prison sentence, the Court of Appeal confirmed in July 2026.
His sentence was initially referred by Solicitor-General Ellie Reeves, who described it as ‘unduly lenient’.
Digwa had previously misled police by claiming he was the victim of a racially aggravated assault. This deception led to police arresting Henry Nowak instead of providing him with first aid. Nowak was handcuffed while struggling to breathe, and footage of this incident sparked widespread protests.
Henry’s father, Mark Nowak, expressed outrage at the stark difference in police treatment between his son and Digwa. Mark described the situation as ‘unbearable’, highlighting that Henry was forcibly arrested rather than cared for when critically injured.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently investigating two officers for possible misconduct. The investigation focuses on their failure to provide urgent medical assistance to Nowak and the decision to arrest and handcuff him as he was dying. The inquiry is also examining whether race or religion influenced the officers’ actions.
While serving his sentence at HMP Frankland in Durham, Digwa has requested segregation due to fears for his own safety. He is reportedly terrified of being attacked, similar to the assault on child-killer Ian Huntley in February 2026.
Originally published by UKNIP.
