Henry Nowak murder: Mother of killer Vickrum Digwa sentenced to three years in prison for hiding knife
The mother of Henry Nowak’s killer, Vickrum Digwa, was sentenced to three years in prison for removing a knife from the scene of the murder.
Kiran Kaur, 53, was previously convicted of aiding an offender. He was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Friday.
Digwa, 23, stabbed finance student Mr Nowak to death with a Sikh ceremonial knife on a Southampton street on December 3, 2025. Kaur then took the knife to the family’s home.
Sentencing Kaur, Judge William Mousley KC said: “A responsible parent would challenge their son’s actions and encourage them to do the right thing.
“Instead you took the knife home and placed it in your son’s bedroom, along with a larger collection of ceremonial and other weapons. This would have helped conceal what it was used for.”
During Digwa’s murder trial, it emerged that he had lied to police about the events leading up to the stabbing, claiming Mr Nowak had racially abused him.
The outrage erupted after police released body-worn video showing Mr. Nowak, 18, being handcuffed moments before he collapsed and then died.
Two Hampshire police officers involved in the arrest are currently under investigation for potential gross misconduct.
Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for Mr Nowak’s murder in June.
The sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal by Attorney-General Ellie Reeves in June for being “overly lenient”.
The Court of Appeal also announced that it intends to appeal Digwa’s conviction and sentence.
Judge William Mousley KC said in sentencing that the killer had shown a “callous disregard” for Mr Nowak’s well-being by continuing to make films showing him suffering and “ignoring the helplessness he felt at having been stabbed”.
The judge continued: “You told him there was no such thing, no doubt to convince others nearby.
“Your brother did much the same thing, though he may have been accepting what you told him instead of lying.
“You lied to him about being attacked and answered his question about whether this was accompanied by racism by falsely claiming that Henry called you ‘Paki’.
“I’m sure Henry didn’t say anything racist.”
Digwa, his brother and his father are also charged with numerous weapons-related offences.
They appeared in court in early July and pleaded not guilty to all charges, including possession of 37 swords, a pocket knife, an ax and eight brass knuckles.
Digwa appeared via video link from HMP Frankland at Southampton Magistrates’ Court.
The crimes all date back to December 4, 2025, the day after Mr. Nowak was killed.
The trio will appear in court in September 2027.
