Knife-obsessed Sikh man is jailed for 21 years after murdering student Henry Nowak who was arrested by police for racism as he lay dying

A Sikh man has been sentenced to at least 21 years in prison for killing a student with a ceremonial knife and then tricking police into arresting his dying victim.

Knife-obsessed Vickrum Digwa, 23, stabbed stranger Henry Nowak, 18, six times with an 8-inch knife he was carrying in Southampton city center last December.

The teenager did not know his victim but told the first officers on the scene a ‘bad lie’ about him and claimed Mr Nowak had racially abused him, punched him and knocked off his turban.

The fatally injured student died ‘alone, humiliated and handcuffed’, choking on his own blood, prosecutor Nicholas Lobbenberg KC told the court today.

MPs reacted with anger after Digwa was convicted of murder last week, questioning how the killer could so easily trick officers into arresting his dying victim – a mistake described as a ‘shocking example of two-tiered policing’.

Digwa was today jailed for a minimum of 21 years at Southampton Crown Court after a jury found him guilty of ‘aggressively stalking’ Mr Nowak and stabbing him six times, including an 8cm-deep wound to his chest.

Following the sentencing, Mr Nowak’s father, Mark, lashed out at the police in a statement on the court steps.

He said: ‘Henry should not have died in police custody on the streets of Southampton. His treatment was inhumane and degrading.

‘But kindness was shown to his murderer; he was believed. He was not handcuffed when he was arrested, nor was he handcuffed when he was taken to the police station.

‘As far as we understand he was never handcuffed and, as Vickrum Digwa himself told the court when he was arrested for Henry’s murder, the police even took him to the kitchen so he could choose his meal.

‘This contrast is intolerable.’

He called for a ‘full, fearless and transparent’ investigation into police incompetence in his son’s final moments, adding: ‘Our family should not have to fight for the truth.’

The grieving father said the case ‘painfully demonstrates’ that ‘we need common sense to be applied to our laws’.

‘People should not be able to walk openly on the streets of Britain carrying a 21cm knife,’ he said.

Mr Nowak was a finance student at the University of Southampton and was described by his family as ‘kind and talented’

Digwa used racism as ‘trump card’ by accusing Mr Nowak (pictured) of racially abusing him when police officers arrived to arrest the wrong man

In sentencing, Judge William Mousley KC told the defendant that being able to wear a knife in public was a “privilege” that came with “great responsibility”, adding that it was a “fundamental principle” of Sikhism that a knife should “never be carried for an offensive purpose”.

Continuing his remarks towards the defendant, he said of Mr Nowak: ‘I’m sure Henry didn’t say anything racist.

‘You are the only one who claims this and it is completely contradictory to his previous character.

‘You have brought shame to your family and your religion.

‘Your actions have increased racial tensions in Southampton and across the country which have left many Sikhs fearing for their safety.’

Prosecutor Mr Lobbenberg had previously said at the sentencing hearing: ‘Henry Nowak’s death, alone, humiliated and handcuffed, was a direct result of Vickrum Digwa’s dishonesty.

‘Vickrum Digwa chose to make videos twice; The first is footage of Henry’s escape, followed by footage of Henry’s death with close-ups of his face. The Crown says this is both intrusive and insulting.

‘His defense, which describes Henry as a violent, drunken, racist attacker, adds to the family’s pain.’

The court heard Nihang Sikh slept in a bedroom with an ‘arsenal of weapons’ which he shared with his brother.

Digwa had a fascination with antique Sikh weapons and even described the murder weapon in ‘affectionate terms’ when asked.

Hampshire Police were forced to apologize to Mr Nowak’s family for arresting the fatally injured teenager last week.

Deputy Chief Constable Robert France told the Daily Mail: ‘I’m sorry he was handcuffed and arrested.’

There have been calls for the force to release body camera footage of the arrest, while the Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating how officers acted.

The case sparked international outrage, with tech billionaire Elon Musk proposing to launch a special investigation against the police. This also raises questions about whether anti-racism training can have a devastating effect on police officers’ decisions.

The hearing heard Mr Nowak was in his first term at the University of Southampton and had gone for a night out on the town on December 3. The young man set out for his home around 23:00 in the evening.

Jurors were told he was talking to friends on Snapchat when he encountered Digwa, who was ‘carrying an extremely large knife in a sheath clearly displayed on his clothing’.

A video of two men talking was found on the phone found in Mr. Nowak’s killer’s pocket.

In the clip, Mr Nowak can be heard saying: ‘You’re a bad man, say you’re a bad man, move on.’

Digwa replied: ‘I am a bad man.’ The image was then cut.

After the fatal blows were delivered, Digwa ‘aggressively pursued’ his victim and filmed him trying to escape. His brother Gurpreet then arrived and called 999, claiming his brother had been ‘racially attacked’.

The police arrived shortly afterwards and at this point Digwa used his ‘trump card’ by accusing Mr Nowak of racism.

Mr Lobbenberg told the jury it was ‘a bad lie about a dying man’.

Last week the Daily Mail revealed Digwa’s obsession with guns was apparent for several years before the fatal attack; A 2023 video showed Digwa performing with ceremonial knives at a Sikh event.

Killer Vickrum Digwa’s obsession with guns was evident for several years before the fatal attack; A video obtained by the Daily Mail showing him putting on a show with ceremonial knives at a Sikh event (Digwa is pictured in white)

In the 30-second clip, Digwa performs ‘Gatka’ along with her elder brother Gurpreet (pictured in blue).

Sources in the local Sikh community said Digwa and his brother were briefly Gatka teachers, but they abruptly cut ties with him over concerns about his behavior.

In the 30-second clip, Digwa is seen performing ‘Gatka’ with her elder brother Gurpreet.

Gatka is a Sikh arms show, and both Digwa and his brother have been described as Gatka’s ‘teachers’.

Sources in the local Sikh community said Digwa and his brother were briefly Gatka teachers, but they abruptly cut ties with him over concerns about his behavior.

In the video, shot in May 2023, he is seen arguing with knives and small shields in front of an audience at an event in London.

Digwa can be seen grabbing a knife and a shield from an array of weapons on the ground and using circular motions to thrust the knife into his brother’s shield.

The two, dressed in traditional Sikh attire and turbans, can be seen jumping from side to side and continuing to hit each other’s shields.

The footage will raise questions about whether enough was done to stop Digwa’s obsession with knives before it turned deadly.