Overview
- Vickrum Digwa was convicted of murder on May 28 and this week was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 21 years for the December killing of 18‑year‑old student Henry Nowak.
- The Nowak family agreed to release police body‑worn video that shows officers handcuffing the mortally wounded teenager while he pleaded that he had been stabbed and could not breathe.
- Hampshire Police apologised, removed officers from frontline duties, and referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which has opened an investigation into the force’s response.
- Protests in Southampton over the footage turned partly violent, police say 11 people have now been charged with violent disorder, and several demonstrators and officers were injured during clashes.
- Reporting showed the force considered a public message about online ‘mis‑ and disinformation’ during the trial but the Crown Prosecution Service warned it could prejudice proceedings, and high‑profile U.S. comments by JD Vance and Elon Musk provoked formal rebukes from Downing Street.