The family of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton last December, claim they were "manipulated in their darkest hours" by police and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The family alleges that authorities initially suggested Nowak was the aggressor and that officers provided him with first aid, contradicting evidence that he was handcuffed and arrested while dying.
Digwa was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 21 years in June for the murder. The family's allegations emerged in an ITV documentary, "Dear Henry: Our Fight For Justice," detailing their experiences in the aftermath of Nowak's death. They claim that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary (HIOWC) suggested Nowak started the altercation, citing a police Facebook post that described "two individuals were attacked by an unknown man," whom the family identified as Henry. A draft press release also reportedly depicted Nowak as the aggressor, which his father Mark found shocking given he was identifying his son's body at the time.
The family also reported that police inquired about Nowak's political views and their own. They believe authorities initially accepted Digwa's false claim of a racist attack by Nowak before realizing the truth.
According to the family, the narrative surrounding police actions evolved. Initially told officers administered first aid upon arrival, they later learned Nowak had been detained, handcuffed, and arrested before any aid was given. "The story was evolving every time we had an interaction," Mark Nowak stated. "What started off as, 'When the police arrived, we administered first aid,' moved through a stage where: 'When the police arrived, they detained everyone'... To: 'We actually only detained Henry,' to then: 'We handcuffed Henry,' and then: 'We placed Henry under arrest.' That evolution of what actually happened that night really shocked us, and we felt we were being hoodwinked. We felt we were being not told the truth."
Body-worn camera footage revealed Nowak repeatedly saying "I've been stabbed" and "Please, brother. I can't breathe," while an officer responded, "Don't think you have, mate." Police reportedly took eight minutes to discover the fatal stab wound to his chest during CPR. The family only saw this footage weeks later, on the first day of Digwa's trial.
In April, the IOPC allegedly told the family there was "no evidence" of misconduct by officers, a statement made before the family viewed the bodycam footage. A letter from the IOPC confirmed no officers would face conduct or criminal investigation due to "no concerns identified in relation to officer actions."
HIOWC chief constable Alexis Boon issued an apology, stating, "I am incredibly sorry that in his final moments, when he needed us most, we failed him." He acknowledged the family's concerns about the police response and their treatment, promising to learn from the tragedy. The IOPC stated its commitment to establishing the full circumstances and providing the family with answers. The Crown Prosecution Service explained that sensitive evidence could not be shared until the case was trial-ready to avoid prejudicing proceedings.
A Home Office spokesperson called Nowak's murder a tragedy and announced an independent review into the circumstances, including the IOPC's involvement. Digwa's mother, Kiran Kaur, was jailed for three years for assisting an offender after removing the knife used by her son. The documentary "Dear Henry: Our Fight For Justice" is set to air on ITV.