Vickrum Digwa’s family ‘deeply sorry’ to Henry Nowak’s relatives – but warn his murder should not ‘inflame division’

The family of Henry Nowak’s killer said they were “deeply sorry for the pain and suffering” their relative endured but warned the student’s death should not “inflame division”.

Vickrum Digwa fatally stabbed the 18-year-old student in December 2025 after falsely accusing her of a racist attack. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years at Southampton Crown Court on Monday.

Chilling video footage from the night Mr Nowak died shows how police handcuffed and arrested him as he lay on the ground, despite his repeated claims that he had been stabbed. He died shortly after.

The teenager’s murder sparked a backlash from politicians, including Nigel Farage, who called his death “evidence that we live in a two-tiered culture” and called for an end to “anti-white prejudice”.

Digwa’s family apologized to Mr Nowak’s family for “bringing into disrepute” the Sikh Community, but said the tragedy should not be used to “exacerbate division or hostility towards any community”.

In a statement released through Sikh PA, the family said: “The loss of a young life is a pain no family should have to endure. “We are deeply saddened by the pain and suffering the Nowak family has had to endure.

“We love Vickrum. We will continue to love him. That love does not conflict with the sadness we feel for the Nowak family. Both are real, and both will stay with us for the rest of our lives.”

“We would give anything to turn back time so Henry and Vickrum never crossed paths that night. We can’t change what happened, we just hope it doesn’t cause any more pain.”

“We apologize to the Sikh community for our son’s actions which have unfairly brought the community into disrepute.”

They added: “We ask that this tragedy not be used by anyone to fuel division or hostility towards any community.

“We ask for privacy as we confront what is now before us.”

In a video statement on Tuesday, Mr Farage, the Reform UK leader, called for recognition that “white lives matter” and said Mr Nowak was “treated in a way that essentially meant an accusation of racial slurs was taken more seriously than an act of murder”.

“Enough anti-white bias, the promotion of the idea that white lives matter as much as black lives,” he said. “No more DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and affirmative action, but a country that treats everyone equally and fairly before the law.

“This is a serious situation. This is urgent. I fear what our society will be in a few years if we don’t grasp this and do it very, very quickly.”

Mr Farage said he had sent one of “multiple requests” for Digwa’s sentence to be reviewed under the extremely lenient sentencing (ULS) scheme.

Hampshire police and crime commissioner Donna Jones said she was leading calls for a review of religious exemptions for carrying knives following Mr Nowak’s murder.

The 18-year-old was stabbed with a knife that Digwa carries as part of his Sikh religion.

Mrs Jones said Guard“It is devastating that officers did not believe Henry when he said he had been stabbed and could not breathe. His death is a national tragedy. At the heart of this incident is Vickrum Digwa’s ability to carry a knife in public because there is an exemption for members of the Sikh faith to carry ceremonial daggers.”

“I plan to write to the prime minister to request a national review of laws regarding the transport of sharps under religious exemptions.”

Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds described body camera footage of the scene as “every parent’s nightmare” and said there were “serious questions that need to be answered” about the police response.

But he insisted it was for the Independent Office for Police Conduct to review the incident “without fear or favor”.

He told the BBC’s Today program on Tuesday morning: “The footage, the body camera footage, is every parent’s nightmare.

“It’s sad and absolutely shocking and when you look at the scene the police behavior is shocking.”

He added: “I accept what has happened here, the disgusting events and the gruesome and distressing images we have seen; there are serious questions that need to be answered.

“No one disputes that. It should be the role of the Independent Office for Police Conduct to ask all the questions necessary to get to the truth about what is happening here, without fear or favor.”