Overview
- Henry Nowak was fatally stabbed in Southampton on December 3, 2025, and Vickrum Digwa was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life with a minimum term of 21 years on Monday.
- Police body‑worn camera footage released after the sentence shows Nowak telling officers he had been stabbed and saying “I can’t breathe” while an officer replies “I don’t believe you” and his hands are put in cuffs as he lay dying.
- The footage has prompted large and sometimes violent protests in Southampton with projectiles thrown at officers, multiple injuries to police, and several arrests and charges linked to the disturbances.
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened a formal investigation into the officers’ actions and the National Police Chiefs’ Council has launched a review of operational guidance on how race and community context should shape policing decisions.
- The case has driven sharp political debate with far‑right figures and social‑media influencers amplifying claims of bias, government leaders warning against stoking division, and courtroom findings clarifying that Digwa also carried an 8‑inch dagger that was used to kill Nowak.