Two men charged after Southampton disorder over Henry Nowak murder | UK news
Two men have been charged in connection with the chaos that broke out after a man was sentenced for the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton.
11 police officers were injured in the mayhem near the home of murderer Vickrum Digwa.
Matt Styler, 50, is accused of assaulting a police officer and Daniel Frost, 44, for violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. They were due to appear at Southampton magistrates’ court on Thursday.
CPS Wessex deputy chief prosecutor Sophie Stevens said the charges followed an investigation into allegations of crime following protests in Southampton on Tuesday evening.
He said: “Our prosecutors worked to establish that there was sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it was in the public interest to pursue criminal prosecution.”
Meanwhile, the police watchdog has urged Digwa to stop speculating about the circumstances surrounding the death of Nowak, who was handcuffed by police as he lay dying from stab wounds after claiming the teenager racially abused and assaulted him.
Derrick Campbell, director of the Independent Office for Police Conduct, said: “We are acutely aware of the public interest in this case. We respectfully ask people to stop speculating about a live ongoing investigation.”
“This investigation will fully establish the circumstances of the case, including whether any of the officers involved engaged in misconduct.
“Continued comments about evidence and speculation risk undermining due process and preventing Henry Nowak’s family from getting the answers they deserve.”
After Digwa was jailed, Nowak’s father, Mark, condemned the “inhumane and degrading” treatment of his son by police but added: “We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We want his story to help make our streets safer for everyone.”
The unrest broke out after a protest outside Southampton central police station, attended by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
