Teen Stabbed To Death After False Racism Claim; Family Demands Answers Over Police Response

A Sikh man who fatally stabbed an 18-year-old college student after falsely accusing him of racism has been sentenced to life in prison in the United Kingdom, while the victim’s family continues to demand accountability for the police response that left their son handcuffed as he lay dying.

According to reporting from The Daily Wire, Vickrum Digwa was convicted Monday for the December 3, 2025, murder of Henry Nowak in Southampton, England. Judge William Mousley sentenced Digwa to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years before he can be considered for parole.

Nowak, 18, was walking back to his dormitory when he encountered Digwa, who was carrying a large ceremonial blade. Under British law, Sikhs are exempt from certain restrictions on carrying blades in public for religious reasons.

Court proceedings revealed that Digwa stabbed Nowak multiple times, including a fatal wound to the chest. Prosecutors successfully argued that Digwa’s subsequent claims that Nowak had racially abused him were fabricated.

According to Judge Mousley, Digwa falsely told police that Nowak had called him a racial slur. While Nowak lay dying, Digwa and his brother allegedly repeated those accusations and instructed their mother to remove the murder weapon, sheath, and belt from the scene.

Body-camera footage released after the conviction has sparked outrage across Britain. The footage shows officers handcuffing Nowak after Digwa accused him of assault. Despite repeatedly telling officers that he had been stabbed and could not breathe, Nowak was treated as a suspect rather than a victim.

Judge Mousley noted that Nowak was handcuffed on the ground “before his condition further deteriorated and the arresting officer began CPR.”

Outside the courthouse, Henry’s father, Mark Nowak, condemned the police handling of the incident.

“Henry had been stabbed multiple times, and as his chest filled with blood, he tried to escape,” Nowak said. “He was chased, abused, and filmed by Vickrum Digwa and others.”

“In fact, Henry told officers that he could not breathe nine times. He told them he had been stabbed four times. The response from one officer was, ‘I don’t think you have, mate.'”

The elder Nowak rejected police claims that officers were confused by a chaotic scene.

“The police have said they were misled by the murderer and that the scene when they arrived was complex,” he said. “Unfortunately, it seems to us the truth is much simpler. The police were told by our son himself and by a member of the public who called 999 that they heard someone shout that they had been stabbed. But the police did not believe them.”

Watch the disturbing footage below:

According to Nowak, officers handcuffed his son, dragged him across gravel, and formally arrested him while he was suffering from catastrophic blood loss.

“Henry was pulled across the gravel, his hands forced behind his back, and he was placed in handcuffs,” he said. “Instead of being treated as a dying victim, police formally arrested Henry for assault and read him his rights. That was the last thing he heard.”

“Henry did not die with dignity. He did not die with the care he deserved. He lost consciousness before anyone believed him,” Nowak added. “Henry should not have died on the streets of Southampton in police custody. The way he was treated was inhumane and degrading. His murderer, however, was afforded decency.”

Nowak contrasted the treatment of his son with that of Digwa.

“Digwa was believed; he was not handcuffed when arrested, he was not handcuffed when transported to the police station — as far as we understand, he was never handcuffed at all,” he said. “Police even took him to the kitchen so he could choose his food.”

“The contrast is unbearable,” he concluded.

Evidence presented during the trial included recordings made while Digwa and his brother were being transported by police. According to prosecutors, the two men discussed claiming self-defense and expressed concern that surveillance footage could undermine that narrative.

The conviction came after prosecutors dismantled Digwa’s claims that he acted in self-defense or in response to racist abuse. Jurors ultimately found that Nowak was the victim of an unprovoked attack and that Digwa’s allegations against him were false.

Nowak’s family is now calling for what they describe as a “full, fearless and transparent” investigation into the conduct of the responding officers.

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