Henry Nowak’s killer moves to appeal conviction and sentence after being jailed for life
The Court of Appeal has confirmed that Vickrum Digwa, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of university student Henry Nowak, intends to appeal his conviction and sentence.
Digwa was sentenced last month to a minimum of 21 years behind bars after fatally stabbing 18-year-old Mr Nowak in Southampton on December 3 last year.
The sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal in June by Attorney-General Ellie Reeves for being “overly lenient”.
But on Friday the Court of Appeal announced it intended to appeal Digwa’s conviction and sentence.
No date has been set for the appeal hearing or sentence increase proposal, and no details about Digwa’s appeal have been provided.
After stabbing Mr Nowak last year, Digwa lied to police about being the victim of a racist attack.
The case later sparked protests after body-worn footage was released showing officers failing to give him first aid and handcuffing him as he lay dying, despite him telling officers he couldn’t breathe.
When Digwa was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court, Mr Nowak’s father, Mark Nowak, said the difference between the killer and the treatment of his son was “unbearable”.
A day later, Sir Keir Starmer said there were “serious questions” to be answered about the case. Starmer went on to speak to Nowak’s family in Downing Street, saying after the meeting: “Henry deserves a legacy that goes beyond this terrible tragedy and I am determined to deliver that.
“I am determined to do everything we can to prevent other families from suffering such a devastating loss.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct said on Wednesday it was investigating the two officers for potential gross misconduct, including the decision to recognize that Mr. Nowak needed urgent medical attention, take action when he said he had been stabbed and could not breathe, and the decision to arrest and handcuff him rather than provide first aid.
One of the officers is also under investigation for potentially breaching standards of conduct by denying the teenager’s claim that he had been stabbed.
The watchdog is also looking at whether race or religion plays a role in police officers’ decision-making.
