The Court of Appeal will review the sentence given to Vickrum Digwa, who fatally stabbed 18-year-old student Henry Nowak in Southampton. Digwa, aged 23, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder.
The Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves KC, has requested a review of Digwa’s sentence under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. Reeves expressed her shock at the case and the shared sentiment of the public. She emphasized the need to address the police’s handling of Nowak’s murder and her responsibility to reassess Digwa’s sentence.
Following thorough deliberation, Reeves decided to refer the case to the Court of Appeal. She acknowledged that no sentence could alleviate the pain suffered by Nowak’s family or replace the void left by his tragic death. However, she hopes that the referral will help bring the family the justice they seek.
Digwa was recently convicted of murdering Nowak in December. Described as “weapons-obsessed,” he used an eight-inch Sikh ceremonial knife in the attack and falsely accused Nowak of racial abuse. Despite Nowak’s pleas for help, police officers, who later handcuffed him, initially disregarded his statements about being stabbed.
The release of bodycam footage showing the events sparked outrage and led to protests, resulting in numerous arrests. Digwa had previously been under police investigation in 2023 for suspected theft of ceremonial blades from a Sikh temple in Southampton, but no further action was taken.