Overview
- A jury at Southampton Crown Court convicted 23‑year‑old Vickrum Digwa of murder and on Monday sentenced him to life with a minimum term of 21 years.
- Police‑released bodycam video shows 18‑year‑old Henry Nowak bleeding on the ground, saying “I can’t breathe” and “I’ve been stabbed” while officers initially treated him as a suspect and kept him handcuffed before calling an ambulance.
- Court testimony and footage show Digwa called police at the scene and falsely claimed he had been the victim of a racist attack, and questions persist about the type of blade used though Sikh community leaders deny a kirpan was involved.
- Hundreds gathered in Southampton after the footage was released, protests led to clashes with police, at least two arrests and multiple officers injured, and right‑wing figures amplified the case with the 'White Lives Matter' slogan.
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened a formal inquiry, Hampshire officers have apologised, and ministers have said national guidance on anti‑racism and operational decision‑making will be reviewed with potential procedural changes to avoid repeats.