Six more charged over Southampton protests sparked by Henry Nowak murder
Following protests sparked by the murder of Henry Nowak earlier this week, six more people have been charged with violent disorder in Southampton.
Thus, the total number of people accused after the unrest in the port city increased to 11.
Kevin Reeves, 31, of Portswood Road, Southampton; Andrew Riddett, 38, of Seacombe Green, Southampton; Harry Varney, 34, of Briarswood, Southampton; Taylor Grundy, 22, of Pavillion Way, Gosport; Dillon Crawford, 29, of Wilton Avenue, Southampton, has been charged with violent disorder, Hampshire Police said.
Andrew Summerhayes, 38, of Banning Street, Romsey, has been charged with violent disorder and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, police added.
They will all appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Saturday morning.
The charges follow protests after 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa was sentenced to at least 21 years in prison for the murder of 18-year-old Mr Nowak in December.
Anger erupted following the release of police body-worn video showing Mr Nowak being handcuffed moments before he lost consciousness and subsequently died.
The treatment of the 18-year-old has triggered a political debate, with the Prime Minister urging politicians to heed calls from the teenager’s relatives to “not use the case to create confusion”.
Violent protests broke out near where the student was fatally stabbed after Mr Digwa claimed he was the victim of a racist attack and was handcuffed by police who ignored Mr Nowak’s dying pleas that he could not breathe.
