Strange Stories UK, Henry Nowak, Southampton Murder.

This case has just made national news headlines. It was not widely reported at the time or when the trial started but police worn body cam footage was reminiscent of the Black Lives Matter case when George Floyd Jr restrained by police said he could not breath and was ignored by police. In this case Henry Nowak a Southampton University Fresher was the victim.

Transcript

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Hello, Strange Stories UK here again, calling this one the Henry Nowak Southampton Murder. Well, it's gonna be a long hot summer, and there's gonna be a number of cases that will cause anger. It's already kicked off after a trial finishing at Southampton Crown Court on the 1st of June 2026. Here is the story. Henry Nowak was an 18-year-old first year accountancy and finance student at the University of Southampton. He was of Polish descent. He came from Chafford 100 in Essex, and he'd been out with his football teammates on the night of the 3rd of December, 2025. His family said that he had been fully embracing university life, making friends, studying in a new city, and enjoying the opportunities ahead of him. At 11 30 p.m., Henry was walking back alone to his student accommodation through Belmont Road near central Southampton. He had been drinking, but later tests showed his alcohol level was below the drink drive limit. At the time he was sending Snapchat videos to friends, he encountered 23-year-old Vikram Singh Digwa from St. Denny's Rose, Southampton. Digwa was reported to have been connected with Deliveroo work. He was carrying two blades. One was a smaller kerpan concealed beneath his clothing and worn around his neck. The other was a much larger twenty-one centimeter or eight inch shasta worn openly over his clothing in a sheath. The beginning of the encounter was partly captured on Henry's phone. Prosecutor Nicholas Lobenberg told jurors that the police caught the moment Henry met Digwa. In the clip, Henry can be heard saying In it bad man, what a bad man. You're a bad man. Say you're a bad man. Go on. Digwer replied, I am a bad man. Henry then began to say Are you before the footage cut off? Prosecutors said Henry's phone was later found in Digwa's pocket. Digwa later claimed that Henry was drunk. He barged into him, used racist language, punched him, pulled his hair, and knocked off his turban. He said he'd been walking to fetch curried chips from the car when the confrontation happened. He claimed Henry said you could have moved up a little bit more, then used racist insults, and said words to the effect of Do you think you're a bad man? I'm from Essex. You don't know what people from Essex are on. Digwas said Henry started filming him and he tried to block the phone, and that Henry punched him and pulled off his turban. He told the court he feared Henry would use his own blade against him, and said I thought I had to do something because I was afraid he was going to stab me with my own kerb my own knife. He also said he did not mean to stab Henry in the chest, and when in court he became emotional, saying he was sorry that it happened. In court the prosecution rejected Digwar's account. They said his claim of racist abuse and self-defense was a wicked lie, invented to save himself from prison. Lobenberg, the prosecutor, told the jury that Digwar had not sought help from the man that he'd injured with his knife, but instead accused him of being a drunk racist and violent. The prosecution said this was not a case about Sikhism or racism, but a case about murder. Henry was stabbed five times, or suffered four stab wounds and a cut to the jaw, according to the postmortem evidence. The wounds included two to the back of his legs and a fatal wound to the chest, which wasn't immediately visible. Neighbours heard Henry say that he'd been stabbed and was dying. He tried to escape by climbing onto a bin and over a fence, leaving a blood trail behind him. The prosecution said this showed that he'd already been fatally wounded before he climbed over the fence and that Digwa was then aggressively pursuing him. After the stabbing, Digua did not tell police that Henry had been hurt. His father, brother, and mother arrived at the scene. His brother, Gerpret Digwa, made the 999 call and repeatedly claimed that Vikram had been raciously attacked. He told the police that the brothers were restraining Henry and that there were no weapons involved. Digwa himself initially denied stabbing Henry and repeated the claim that he'd been racially abused and attacked by a drunken white man. When officers arrived, they were misled by Digwa and his brother. Henry who was actually the victim was treated as a suspect. Body cam footage later showed Henry saying I've been stabbed. I can't breathe. One officer replied, I don't think you have, mate. Henry was pulled across the gravel, made to sit up and handcuffed while losing consciousness. Henry told officers that he could not breathe nine times, and that he'd been stabbed four times. But he was formally arrested and read his rights, and these were amongst the last words that he'd heard. Police discovered Henry's fatal injury shortly afterwards. They uncuffed him and began CPR, summoned an ambulance, and a doctor was flown in by helicopter. But Henry could not be saved and was declared dead at the scene. A pathologist later said that the chest wound was deep and internal, with extensive internal bleeding, and nothing officers could have done at that stage would have saved him. Hampshire police apologised for Henry being handcuffed and arrested as he lay dying. After the attack, Digwa gave the knife to his mother, Kirin Carr. CCTV showed her taking it back to the family home in nearby St. Denny's Road. Police later recovered it. Forensic examination found Henry's blood and fatty tissue on the knife, and hairs belonging to Digwa and his mother's DNA on the sheath. Police also found more than twenty Sikh weapons at the family home. The mother, Kiranko, aged 53, denied assisting an offender by removing the weapon from the scene. Her defense was that she was distressed, uninformed, and had placed the item among the religious objects at her home. She had not deliberately hidden it. Her barrister argued that if someone was trying to hide a weapon, they would not put it back where it was normally kept and normally accessible. The jury later convicted her of assisting an offender. At trial, Digwer denied murder and carrying a knife in public. He gave no comment answers in police interviews, but later submitted a prepared statement claiming Henry had subjected him to a drunken racist attack. Knocked off his turban, grabbed his hair. He claimed that with his hair in front of his eyes, he stabbed out twice with the blade. The prosecution argued that Digwa was a man with a weapons obsession. They said he had trained with weapons since he was ten years old, and he searched for weapons online. He slept in a room with weapons and chose to carry a large blade in public. Prosecutors stressed that a small concealed kirpan already satisfied any religious obligation a Sikh may have to carry a blade. The larger 21 centimetre Shasta, they argued, was a separate and far more dangerous weapon that Digwa had chosen to carry openly through Southampton. Digwa argued that he was part of the Nihang Sikh tradition in which a second visible blade may be carried. The judge later said that carrying the larger dagger was not a strict requirement of his faith. He also noted that neither Digwa's father or his brother was dressed like him on the night. Judge William Moseley said that there was a huge responsibility attached to being lawfully permitted to carry a blade in public, especially a larger dagger, which was highly dangerous and easily accessible to the wearer. The judge specifically directed the jury on a manslaughter before deliberations. Despite the lesser option being available, the manslaughter option, the jury still convicted Digwa of murder, indicated that they rejected the argument that the fatal chest wound was accidental or unintended. The jury rejected Digwa's defense. He was found guilty of murder and possessing a knife in public. His mother was found guilty of assisting an offender. When the verdicts were read out, Kerr, the mother, appeared visibly upset. Digwa showed little emotion, and members of Henry's family wept and hugged. The Sikh Federation UK said Henry's life had been cut short by a moment of madness for which there could be no excuse. Sikh organizations stressed that the large blade used by Digwa was not the normal Kerpan worm worn by fully practicing Sikhs. They explained that a Kerpan is usually a small curved ceremonial knife worn close to the body as one of the five Ks of the Sikh faith. It is intended to be a symbolic reminder to protect the weak and uphold righteousness. Sikh groups said that once the blade is drawn or used violently, it's no longer protected by the religious offense and no longer regarded as a Kerpan in that context. On the first of June 2026, Digwa appeared at the Southampton Crown Court for sentence. The courtroom was packed with members of the Nowak and Digwa families, also friends, journalists, barristers, solicitors, and other court staff. Digwa was the last to arrive before the judge. He wore a dark suit and tie and a purple turban and sat in a glass fronted dock near two security guards. During the sentencing hearing, Henry's family gave victim impact statements. His father, Mark, said the whole family had been given a life sentence. Henry's mother, Lucy Ross, said that he had been an ambitious, determined, and full of life. She said that he had been the first grandchild of the first grandchild in the family to go to university, and his future had been cruelly taken away. His sister Olivia said that part of her died when he died. Six hundred and fifty people attended his funeral. His stepfather, David Stevenson, said Henry would not tolerate racism, sexism or bullying, and he treated people with respect and kindness. Prosecutor Nicholas Lubemberg argued that the minimum term should start at twenty five years because of aggravating factors. He said that this was a sustained attack on an unarmed man with wounds to several areas of the body and no defensive injuries. He said Digwer had chosen to make videos of Henry fleeing and close-ups of him lying on the ground, and that his false depiction of Henry as a racist, drunk, violent aggressor compounded the grief of the family. Digwer's barrister, Jeremy Wainwright, argued in mitigation that Digwa was a previous good character and had not gone out that night intended to commit a crime. He said the incident had happened very quickly and unexpectedly. Judge William Mosley sentenced Digwar to life imprisonment with a minimum term of twenty one years. The judge rejected Digwar's claim that Henry had racially abused him. He said he was sure Henry had said nothing racist and the allegation was completely at odds with Henry's character. Digward shown callous disregard by continuing to film Henry after stabbing or cutting him. The judge also said Digwar had misled police with the convincing but wholly false narrative. He noted that the police handcuffed Henry about a minute before discovering his fatal wound and giving treatment, adding that the wound would not necessarily have been obvious in the dark. He said Henry's complaints that he had been stabbed and could not breathe did not necessarily reveal to officers how serious the injury had become. The judge told Digwa that his actions had stirred racial tensions in Southampton and across the country, and had made many Sikhs worried about their own safety. He said Digwa had brought shame on his family and his religion. After sentencing there was a verbal altercation in court between the friends and family of Digwa. Cries of stop stop were heard. Fourteen police officers were later reported to be in the court foyer as people waited for the Nowak family to make a statement outside. Outside court, Mark Nowak called for a full, fearless and transparent investigation into the police handling of Henry's death. He said the family should not have to fight for the truth. He said Henry did not die with dignity and did not receive the care he deserved. He said Henry should not have died on the streets of Southampton in police custody. He described the police treatment as inhuman and degrading. The father stressed that the family held Vikram Digwa slow solely and completely responsible for Henry's murder. But he said the contrast between how Henry and Digwer were treated was unbearable. He said Henry was handcuffed and arrested while dying, while Digwa was believed, and as far as the family had understood, he was not handcuffed when arrested or transported to the police station. Mark said Digwer had even told the court that the police took him to the kitchen when under arrest so he could choose his own food. He said people should be able to walk openly through the British streets, and anybody carrying a twenty one centimetre blade should not be allowed. Hampshire Nala White Police Constable Constabury apologized. Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Robert France said it was a tragedy that the officers had not immediately understood what had happened. He said the scene was extremely complex and the officer had been lied to in the nine nine nine call and again when they arrived. He said the force said it would act on any recommendations made by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the IOPC. But remember the IOPC is the police investigating themselves, and many people, including myself, do not think that they are independent. The IOPC opened an investigation after a mandatory referral from Hampshire and Isle of White Police. The investigation covered police contact with Henry before his death, including the use of handcuffs and the first aid given. The IOPC director, Derek Campbell, said that investigators were reviewing a large amount of police body worn footage in context with other evidence, including material presented during the murder trial. The officers involved were being treated as witnesses, though this remained under review. Later reporting said that three of the officers were still serving and one officer had resigned. The release of body cam footage after the trial caused national concern. The footage showed officers speaking to Digua in others before turning to Henry, who could be heard saying that had been stabbed and could not breathe. Henry's family had been given had given permission for the footage to be released. Hampshire police also warned about misinformation after sentencing, saying false names had been circulated online and threats had been made against police officers. A police officer unrelated to the case was misidentified online, subject to death threats and forced to relocate to protect himself and his family. The home secretary Shabina Mahmoud made a statement in the House of Commons. She described Henry's murder as horrifying and evil, and the body cam footage as disturbing and tragic. She said Henry's family deserved answers and the IOPC would be equipped and encouraged to find the truth and if necessary ensure consequences. She also warned about misinformation and inflammatory commentary. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he felt sick watching the footage, especially as the father of a seventeen year old. He called the footage harrowing and said there were serious questions for the police to answer, including how accusations of racism influenced decision making. He said it was right that the IOPC investigate. Downing Street said police must treat everybody equally, regardless of ethnicity, but rejected claims that there was two tier policing. The case produced strong political reaction. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Phillip said that police appeared more concerned with the accusation of racism than helping a dying man. He argued that police anti-racism policies need to be withdrawn. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the case as evidence of two-tier Britain and called for pure cold rage, though Starmer said that that was the wrong response and said Henry's family had asked for this death not to be used to stir division. Conservative leader Kemi Badanock said that something had gone horribly wrong with policing, while Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davy called it an evil murder, made worse by the police response. There didn't seem to be any response from the Green Party. Several MPs also spoke in the commons. Southampton Nichol MP Darren Paffey said the murder had horrified the city and that Henry had been treated as a criminal based on the lies of his murderer. Sikh Labour MP Garinda Singh Josan said there was no religious justification for Digwa's actions and that the Sikh community felt sheer horror. Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones called Henry's death a national tragedy. She said it was devastating that officers did not believe Henry when he said he had been stabbed and could not breathe. She said that the police response raised serious concerns about impartiality, fairness and judgment. She wrote to the Prime Minister asking for a national review of laws concerning blading articles carried under religious exemptions. She later said there was no evidence of two tier culture in policing and expressed concern about community tensions in Southampton. The Attorney General's office confirmed it had received multiple requests to review Digwa's twenty one year minimum term under the unduly lenient sentencing scheme. Law officers had twenty eight days from sentencing to decide whether to refer this sentence to the Court of Appeal. The Sikh community strongly condemned the murder. Community leaders said that Digwa had previously been barred from a Southampton Gudwara because of concerns about his behaviour and actions. Long before Henry was killed, Sikh leaders said that the incident did not align with the Sikh faith or its principles of compassion, justice, humility, responsibility, and service to humanity. Sikh organizations said plans were being made to remind initiated Sikhs in the UK about Kirpin rules and responsibilities. Digwar's family issued a statement through the Sikh PA. They said that they were deeply sorry for the pain and suffering that the Nowak family had endured. They said they loved Vikram and would continue to love him, but this love did not stand in opposition to their sorrow for Henry's family. They said that they would give anything to turn back time so Henry in Vikram's paths had never crossed. They apologized to the Sikh community for Vikram's actions, bringing it into disrepute and asked that the tragedy not to be used to inflame division or hostility. That's of course Vikram Digwa. After Digwa's sentencing, he appeared at Southampton Magistrates Court with his brother and his father. His father was called Muggersing on further weapons charges. Vikram was charged with six counts of possessing offensive weapons in a public private place, including a flick knife, extended baton, knuckle dusters, a machete, swords, and kusaris, which is a type of Japanese main weapon. His brother and father were charged with possessing illegal weapons at the family home. The brother was also accused of having an extendable baton, a curpad knife, and axe in his car. And later reports listed further allegations including air guns, flick knives, knuckle dusters, machetes and swords, and gussaris. The father Mugger was charged with possessing a baton, knuckle duster, flick knives and swords, gussaris, and a machete at the family home. Between the three men they faced 22 weapons charges, all dated the 4th of December 2025, which was the day after that uh Henry was murdered. The father and brother were released on unconditional bail while Vikram uh was remin remained in prison. The next hearing would set for the 9th of July. The mother was due to be sentenced separately on the 17th of July for assisting an offender. Well, that was just a short podcast uh on that case that uh finished today. I just thought I'd better put something out. Uh I think this is gonna be the first of several cases like this that we're gonna hear over the summer. So until then, and the next um the next podcast I'll be uh posting would will be about the R101 airship uh disaster and um and the ghosts associated with it that came through seance later on. Anyway, until that time, which I'll I'll post that next week, until then I'll say goodbye and thank anybody that's listening. Goodbye.