A man convicted of murdering 18-year-old Henry Nowak in a Southampton stabbing has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years. Vickrum Digwa, 23, received the sentence after a jury found him guilty of the killing, which occurred in December 2025.
The Incident
Digwa carried a 21cm blade, which he claimed was part of his Sikh faith. He denied murder and argued that he acted in self-defence, but jurors rejected his account. The attack took place on Belmont Road in Southampton's Portswood area shortly before 11.30pm on December 3, 2025.
Henry, a British-Polish teenager from Chafford Hundred in Essex, was studying accountancy and finance at the University of Southampton. He had just completed his first term when he was killed.
Prosecution's Case
Prosecutors stated that the encounter between the two men escalated after they brushed past each other on the pavement while Henry was returning to his accommodation following a night out. During the trial, Digwa claimed that Henry appeared intoxicated, became aggressive, and used a racial slur. He also alleged that Henry punched him and pulled off his turban before reaching for the blade during the confrontation.
Jurors rejected the self-defence argument and convicted Digwa of murder and possessing a knife in public. The court heard that Henry suffered multiple stab wounds and attempted to flee by climbing over a fence before collapsing.
Assisting an Offender
Digwa's mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, was also found guilty of assisting an offender after prosecutors said she removed the weapon from the scene.
This case has drawn significant attention due to the tragic loss of a young life and the circumstances surrounding the attack.
