Police bodycam footage shows officer handcuffing stabbed Southampton student as he lay dying

Police bodycam footage has been released showing an officer handcuffing a Southampton student as he lay dying from stab wounds.

The footage was made public after Vickrum Digwa, 23, was jailed for life for murdering 18-year-old University of Southampton student, Henry Nowak, with a Sikh ceremonial knife.

Digwa stabbed the finance student five times with a 21cm blade that he said he carried as part of his Sikh faith.

It happened on Belmont Road, Southampton, on December 3, 2025.

Digwa, who must serve at least 21 years in prison, told police that Mr Nowak, who he described as drunk, had racially abused him before punching him and knocking his turban off.

He said he had stabbed Mr Nowak to the back of his legs in self-defence after Mr Nowak had threatened him and grabbed him by the hair, but said he had not realised at the time he had caused the fatal stab wound to his chest.

The incident took place in Belmont Road, Southampton, on December 3, 2025.Credit: ITV News Meridian

But during the trial, the prosecution said Digwa had “lied” and deceived officers who attended the scene by claiming that he had not stabbed Mr Nowak despite the student’s pleas for help.

That led officers to arrest Mr Nowak and place him in handcuffs moments before he collapsed and became unconscious.

He died despite their best efforts to give him first aid.

Hampshire Police has released bodycam of officers attending the scene.

At the sentencing hearing at Southampton Crown Court today (1 June), Nicholas Lobbenberg KC, prosecuting, said: “This was a sustained attack on an unarmed man. The defendant is skilled with weapons, he trained with weapons, he sleeps in a room with weapons, he searches for weapons on his phone.

“The Crown says he is a man with a weapons obsession. He chose to use a weapon on the streets of Southampton, this demonstrates in his mind what he had was a weapon ready and available for his use.”

Hampshire Police has released bodycam of officers attending the scene.

At the sentencing hearing at Southampton Crown Court today (1 June), Nicholas Lobbenberg KC, prosecuting, said: “This was a sustained attack on an unarmed man. The defendant is skilled with weapons, he trained with weapons, he sleeps in a room with weapons, he searches for weapons on his phone.

“The Crown says he is a man with a weapons obsession. He chose to use a weapon on the streets of Southampton, this demonstrates in his mind what he had was a weapon ready and available for his use.”

“Henry Nowak dying alone, humiliated and handcuffed was a direct consequence of Vickrum Digwa’s dishonesty.

“Vickrum Digwa chose on two occasions to make videos, first of Henry fleeing and then of Henry dying with close-ups of his face. The Crown says that is both intrusive and humiliating.

“His defence describing Henry as a violent drunk racist aggressor compounds the grief of the family.”

Judge William Mousley KC told the defendant: “You, Vickrum Digwa, murdered him. By doing so, you robbed him of all those he loved, all the things he cared about and liked to do. He would have been expected to live a long, hopefully, happy and fulfilling life.

“You have brought misery and a lifetime of loss upon his family and great sadness to everyone who knew him.”

He added: “You have brought shame upon your family, your community and your religion. Your actions have stirred up racial tension in Southampton and across the country which have made many Sikhs worried about their own safety even though they have done absolutely nothing wrong.”

Henry’s family read out a statement outside Southampton Crown CourtCredit: ITV News Meridian

Lucy, the mother of Henry, said in a statement read to the court: “Henry was ambitious, determined and full of life, he was a messy sod and always hungry, but he had his whole life ahead of him, that future has been cruelly taken away.

“The impact of his loss has been devastating not only for me but for our entire family and for all who knew him, we are learning to support one another through this unimaginable grief, but the pain is constant, our family will never be the same.

“He will never be forgotten and he will always be loved beyond words. No sentence handed down will bring Henry back.”

She also described the moment her son told her, his face “beaming”, that he had been an offered a place to study at the University of Southampton while on holiday in Greece, adding: “It was one of the proudest moments of my life and a moment I will treasure forever.”

Henry’s father, Mark Nowak, is calling on the Government “to treat knife crime as the national emergency that it is.”

Olivia, Henry’s sister, spoke directly to the defendant as she told him: “If you had known him, you would never have hurt him.”

She told the court: “My brother was my first best friend, an unbreakable bond, we lived our life to the fullest together.”

She added: “He lit up every room that he walked into and the world became less valuable the day he left.”

She described him as “funny, handsome, precious and kind”, and added: “My brother should not be forever 18, he deserved to grow old and start a family of his own, to be an uncle to my children.”

Speaking outside court, Henry’s father Mark Nowak, said: “Henry did not die with dignity. He did not die with the care he deserved. He lost consciousness before anyone believed him.

Henry Nowak was walking back home to his student accommodation after a night out when the incident happenedCredit: Hampshire Police

“Let me be absolutely clear – we hold Vickrum Digwa solely and 100% responsible for the brutal murder of our son. But 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. He 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.

“And, as Vickrum Digwa himself told the court, while under arrest for Henry’s murder, police even took him to the kitchen so he could choose his food. The contrast is unbearable.”

Mr Nowak described the police treatment of his son as “shocking” and added: “The IOPC investigation remains ongoing.

“While we await its final report, we are calling on the Home Secretary to ensure that the IOPC has the resources, authority and independence it needs to conduct a full, fearless and transparent investigation.

“Our family should not have to fight for the truth anymore.”

Southampton Test MP Satvir Kaur says Vickrum Digwa’s actions do not represent the entire Sikh community

Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones says the manner in which Henry Nowak lost his life is a national tragedy.

“It is clear the way in which Henry died is harrowing,” the Commisioner added.

“Today we have heard from Henry’s family, and the lifelong grief they will endure. Henry was falsely accused of racially aggravated assault as he lay dying on the ground, while his attacker stood by denying the violent act he had inflicted upon him.

“The incident that led to Henry being arrested and handcuffed was part of Digwa’s cruel intentions to frame himself as the victim.

“It is devasting the officers did not believe Henry when he said he’d been stabbed and couldn’t breathe.

“When officers realised he was gravely wounded, they uncuffed him and started CPR.

“His death is a national tragedy.

“The details of the police response raises serious concerns about police impartiality, fairness and judgement.

“Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has apologised for handcuffing and arresting Henry minutes before he died.

“The force also referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) the day after Henry lost his life.

“The findings of the IOPC review will be published, and as Commissioner I am committed to ensuring the findings are implemented without delay.

“Central to this incident is the fact that Vickrum Digwa was able to carry a knife in public because there is an exemption for those who observe the Sikh faith to carry ceremonial daggers.

“As Commissioner, I intend to write to the Prime Minister to request a national review of the laws concerning the carrying of bladed articles under religious exemptions.

“Nothing can bring Henry back. There is no doubt Henry’s last moments were terrifying.

“My thoughts my remain with his family and I will do everything I can to ensure this can never happen again in this country.”

Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, was found guilty of assisting an offender by removing a weapon from the sceneCredit: Hampshire Police

The IOPC said investigators are examining a large amount of body-worn video as well as material presented during the trial of murderer Vickrum Digwa.

A spokesperson said: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with Henry Nowak’s family and everyone affected by his death.

“We are independently investigating the contact Hampshire and Isle of Wight officers had with Mr Nowak prior to his death on 4 December, including the use of handcuffs by officers and the first aid provided.

“Our investigation, which began following a mandatory referral from the force that we received the same day, remains ongoing and the officers involved are currently being treated as witnesses.”

Digwa’s mother Kiran Kaur, 53, who was found guilty of assisting an offender, is due to be sentenced on July 17.

 

 

 

 

SOURE: https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2026-06-01/man-who-murdered-student-with-sikh-ceremonial-knife-jailed-for-life