Henry Nowak’s murderer is seeking to overturn his conviction and reduce his sentence. Vickrum Digwa, aged 23, received a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years after being found guilty of killing 18-year-old Henry. The solicitor general referred the case to the Court of Appeal initially to consider lengthening the sentence.
Recently, it has come to light that Digwa’s legal team has filed an appeal with the same court to invalidate his conviction and lessen the prison term. This development is distressing for Henry’s family, who urged for calm after a video surfaced showing the student’s arrest while he was fatally wounded.
Henry was fatally stabbed on the street with an 8-inch blade that Digwa claimed he carried due to his religious beliefs. Digwa alleged that Henry, the victim, had instigated the altercation by racially abusing him.
An official from the Court of Appeal confirmed that Digwa’s case was flagged as “unduly lenient.” The official further stated that Digwa has submitted an application to appeal both his conviction and sentencing.
A single judge from the appeal court will assess whether Digwa should be granted permission to appeal. If approved, a panel of three judges at the Court of Appeal Criminal Division will review the case.
Judge William Mousley KC sentenced Digwa at Southampton Crown Court on June 1. Following the sentencing, Henry’s father, Mark Nowak, expressed dismay over the treatment disparity between his son and the perpetrator by the police. However, he emphasized their desire not to fuel division or hostility in the aftermath.
Two weeks later, Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP expressed hope that her request to enhance the sentence would bring justice to the Nowak family. Henry, who was initially detained by police while mortally wounded, had to wait eight minutes before officers realized he had been stabbed in the heart.
During the incident, Digwa falsely accused the victim of attacking him and hurling racial slurs. Body-worn camera footage revealed Henry’s desperate pleas for help as he struggled to breathe after being stabbed.
The release of the footage following the sentencing led to violent demonstrations in Southampton on June 2. Investigations are ongoing into two officers for potential gross misconduct, as suggested by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who condemned the incident as “awful and shocking,” met with Henry’s family at Downing Street on June 4. After the meeting, Sir Keir expressed deep humility and stressed the importance of commemorating Henry with a legacy beyond the tragic event.