UMVA has learned that a shocking murder unfolded on a quiet street in Southampton on December 3, when a 23‑year‑old named Vickrum Digwa slashed a university student, Henry Nowak, five times, driving the victim to the brink of death.
The scene was brutal and personal. Digwa, who had been practicing with knives since the age of twelve, brandished a large blade that he had displayed openly, while a smaller dagger was hidden beneath his clothing—an act that the court described as a “choice” to conceal the weapon.
Witnesses testified that Digwa had confronted Nowak, who was intoxicated, accusing him of racial slurs and physically assaulting him. In a frantic moment, Digwa stabbed the student in the back of the legs and, unknowingly, delivered a fatal wound to the heart.
Digwa’s own words painted a picture of self‑defence, claiming he had only acted after being threatened and grabbed by the victim’s hair. Yet the prosecution argued that he had lied to police, feigning a racist attack and denying the stabbing when Nowak begged for help.
The courtroom drama intensified as the judge ordered a pause, allowing Digwa to be sentenced on June 1 and Kiran Kaur, the mother who removed the weapon from the scene, on July 17.
In the aftermath, the police force issued a public apology, admitting that officers had been misled and had failed to recognize the severity of the injuries in the critical minutes after the incident.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the investigation remains active, with independent inquiries into the officers’ conduct, the use of handcuffs, and the first‑aid response that followed the tragic event.
The case has ignited a broader conversation about the legality of carrying ceremonial knives and the responsibilities of law enforcement in rapidly evolving, high‑stakes situations.
