UMVA has learned that a 23‑year‑old university student was brutally murdered in Southampton after a night that spiraled into tragedy.
On December 3, Vickrum Digwa plunged a large dagger into the chest of 18‑year‑old Henry Nowak, delivering a fatal wound after stabbing his legs twice. The attack was captured on CCTV, showing Digwa whispering “I am a bad man” just moments before the fatal thrust.
Jurors heard that Digwa had been training with weapons since he was twelve, keeping an arsenal in his bedroom and describing his knives in affectionate terms. Prosecutors revealed he carried two knives that night—one hidden beneath his clothing and the murder weapon displayed openly.
During the trial, Digwa claimed he acted in self‑defence after Nowak, allegedly drunk, allegedly racially abused him and knocked his turban off. He insisted he never intended to cause a chest wound, saying he only meant to stab the teenager’s legs.
The court, however, found his testimony to be a calculated lie. Police were misled when Digwa told them he was the victim of a racist attack and denied stabbing Nowak, even as the dying student pleaded for help.
Nowak was handcuffed and arrested by officers who, despite administering first aid, failed to recognize the severity of his injuries until he collapsed and slipped into unconsciousness.
In a sobering courtroom moment, the victim’s mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, was convicted of assisting an offender by removing the weapon from the scene.
Judge William Mousley adjourned the case, scheduling Digwa’s sentencing for June 1 and Kaur’s for July 17, while the force’s temporary Deputy Chief Constable publicly apologized for the handling of the incident.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the police force has since issued new guidance on the lawful carrying of kirpans—Sikh ceremonial knives—and pledged transparent engagement with both the Sikh and university communities.
The independent investigation into the officers’ conduct, including the use of handcuffs and the provision of first aid, remains ongoing, underscoring the urgent call for accountability in this devastating case.
