Family Calls for National Emergency on Knife Crime
The family of Henry Nowak, a student who was murdered, expressed that they will carry their grief "every single day" for the rest of their lives. They have urged the government to address knife crime as a "national emergency."
This statement follows the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa, 23, who received a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years for stabbing the 18-year-old in Southampton in December. Digwa used a 21cm (8in) blade which he claimed to carry as part of his Sikh faith.
Digwa had falsely claimed to police that he was the victim of a racist attack. During the incident, officers arrested and handcuffed Nowak as he lay dying on the ground. The family described the police's treatment of Henry as "inhumane and degrading." Hampshire police have since issued an apology.
Court Proceedings and Judicial Remarks
Judge William Mousley KC, presiding at Southampton Crown Court, stated he was certain that Nowak had not made any racist remarks to Digwa. Prior to sentencing, the judge noted that Digwa's actions had "stirred up racial tension in Southampton and across the country which has made many Sikhs worried about their safety."
Warning: This story contains details some may find upsetting.
Family Tributes and Impact
Henry's older sister, Olivia Nowak, from Chafford Hundred in Essex, described her brother as her "best friend" and spoke of their "unbreakable bond" in a statement read in court. She detailed how his death has profoundly affected her life.
"The day we got the knock on the door to say my brother had passed, I don't think there are any words to describe that type of pain. A lot of myself died when he died.
Henry was the most wonderful, funny, handsome, kind, precious, smart boy. He lit every room he walked in.
As the eldest of four siblings, watching my younger brothers and sisters grieve the loss of their big brother is a pain layered on top of my own.
Whenever I'm having a hard day, the only place I want to be is at Henry's grave.
It is the place where the reality of his loss hits the hardest but the only place I am close to him.
I feel sad for those who never got to experience life with Henry, even though it was short. If you had known Henry, you would never had hurt him."
A statement from Henry's mother, Lucy Ross, was read by prosecutors. She expressed the profound pain of losing her son and the tragic circumstances surrounding his death.
"Being told that your son has died is something no one can ever truly comes to terms with. The circumstances were so tragic and unimaginable that the pain is beyond anything I knew existed."
Henry had been the first grandchild of her elderly parents to go to university and it was a moment that had "filled all of us with immense pride."
She described Henry as "ambitious, determined, and full of life" and said "there will always be a hole in our hearts that can never be repaired."
Katie Woodcock, Henry's stepmother, shared her ongoing distress over the night of the murder.
"I replay the horrors of that night over again. It keeps me awake at night."
She described watching Henry's father, Mark Nowak, "unable to stand" and hearing his "raw, unfiltered sobs" echo through the house after being informed by police of Henry's stabbing and death.
She also recalled finding one of her children, aged 10, "curled up at the top of stairs, alone and frightened," having "found out in the worst way possible" through overheard conversations.
Henry had joined the family at a pantomime days before he was killed and she said: "We waved him off back to Southampton university, back to the city that was not safe for him."
She described going to clear out Henry's room at university and finding his advent calendar with only the first three doors open, "that broke me," she added.
Family’s Gratitude and Police Response
Following Digwa's sentencing, Mark Nowak issued a family statement acknowledging the police's actions on the night of Henry's death but expressing gratitude to the investigation team.
"Despite the shocking actions of the police on the fateful night Henry died, our family wants to express our heartfelt gratitude to the murder investigation team.
They secured justice for our son and for that our family will be forever grateful."
He also thanked the family's police liaison officers and their legal team.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary released bodycam footage, with the family's permission, showing the moments after officers arrived at the scene. Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Robert France expressed regret over Henry being arrested and handcuffed.
The police force has pledged to implement recommendations made by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is investigating the officers' conduct.
Political Reaction
Sir Keir Starmer commented on the case via a post on X, stating:
"This an awful, shocking case.
We must end the cycle of tragedy by tackling the horror of knife crime."
