The fatally stabbed UK pupil was handled because the suspect after his assassin misled police
Newly launched police footage reveals the person convicted of murdering British pupil Henry Nowak repeatedly telling officers he had been the sufferer of a racist assault – claims a decide later dominated have been totally false. The recording comes weeks after bodycam video exhibiting police handcuffing the dying 18-year-old sparked nationwide outrage over the officers’ response.
Nowak was stabbed to demise in Southampton final December after being confronted by Vickrum Singh Digwa, a 23-year-old Sikh from town. Digwa was convicted of homicide final month and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimal time period of 21 years after the courtroom rejected his account of the assault.
Printed by the Crown Prosecution Service for the primary time on Friday, the recording captures Digwa giving officers the account he maintained after the stabbing. He’s heard repeatedly claiming that he had been “racially attacked,” alleging the scholar had pulled off his turban whereas by no means telling officers he had stabbed him. He continued making these claims as officers arrested him on suspicion of tried homicide. In contrast to Nowak, Digwa was not restrained.
Elsewhere within the recording, Digwa claimed he had been “actually simply strolling” when Nowak barged into him. He advised officers he may scent alcohol on the scholar, persevering with to painting himself because the sufferer.
Bodycam footage confirmed officers handcuffing Nowak, who was mendacity on the bottom and repeatedly telling them he had been stabbed and couldn’t breathe. He was dragged throughout gravel, positioned below arrest for assault, and left in handcuffs as he misplaced consciousness and drowned in his personal blood.
The courtroom heard Digwa stabbed Nowak 5 instances, together with a deadly wound to the guts, earlier than hiding the scholar’s cell phone in his pocket. Though working towards Sikhs are legally permitted to hold a small ceremonial blade often known as a kirpan, prosecutors stated the homicide weapon was a a lot bigger knife that Digwa carried alongside his kirpan.
Nowak’s father stated his son “didn’t die with dignity” and described the police remedy as “inhumane and degrading.”
The police response to the killing sparked protests and unrest in Southampton, the place 25 folks have been later charged with violent dysfunction. Hampshire Constabulary is below investigation over officers’ dealing with of the incident.
Reform UK chief Nigel Farage stated the case was “proof, if ever there was any,” that Britain was “dwelling in a two-tier tradition” the place “the rights and privileges of white folks matter lower than these of ethnic minorities.”
The killing has reignited debate in Britain over policing, immigration, and violent crime, with critics arguing that police and politicians prioritize policing speech, protests, and “hate incidents” whereas failing to get harmful blades and violent offenders off the streets. It has additionally renewed scrutiny of the nation’s long-running knife crime disaster.
Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised Nowak’s household on the time for exhibiting “extraordinary dignity” after their son’s life was “stolen in appalling circumstances” and acknowledged there have been “severe inquiries to reply.” Nonetheless, he condemned the unrest as “disgraceful and fully unacceptable.”
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