Overview
- A jury found 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa guilty of murdering 18-year-old University of Southampton student Henry Nowak; the verdict was returned on Thursday, May 28, 2026, for the December 3, 2025 stabbing.
- Nowak’s mother, 53-year-old Kiran Kaur, was convicted of assisting an offender for removing the weapon from the scene and is due to be sentenced on July 17 while Digwa faces sentencing in early June.
- Police handcuffed the injured Nowak before he lost consciousness, Hampshire Constabulary apologised and referred officers’ conduct to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for an independent investigation.
- Prosecutors presented evidence that the fatal wounds were caused by a 21cm kirpan-style blade, prompting Sikh organisations to condemn the killing and to stress that carrying larger, weaponised knives is not representative of Sikh practice.
- The case has prompted public and political calls for the release of officers’ body-worn camera footage, and local leaders have said the verdict will sharpen work on knife-crime prevention, training and police transparency.