Vickrum Digwa, 23, who is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, has pleaded not guilty to possessing six offensive weapons. Digwa's brother, Gurpreet Digwa, 27, and their father, Moga Singh, 52, also denied a string of similar weapons offences during a joint appearance at Southampton Magistrates’ Court.
Digwa was sentenced in June to a minimum of 21 years in prison for the killing of Nowak. The attack occurred in December of the previous year when Digwa encountered Nowak, a first-year university student, as he was walking home. Following a brief altercation in which Digwa took Nowak's phone, Digwa used a dagger, which he carried according to his faith, to stab Nowak multiple times. Nowak sustained stab wounds to the chest and leg, as well as a slash mark to the face.
During the incident, Digwa lied to responding police officers, falsely claiming that Nowak had been the aggressor and had made racist remarks. Officers placed the mortally wounded Nowak in handcuffs, despite his pleas that he had been stabbed and was unable to breathe. Bodycam footage captured by officers showed Nowak stating he could not breathe, to which one officer responded, "I don't think you have, mate." An investigation into potential gross misconduct is ongoing for two officers involved.
Digwa's mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, is scheduled to be sentenced next week for assisting an offender, having been instructed by Digwa to take the dagger home after the attack. Digwa was later secretly recorded speaking with his brother Gurpreet, agreeing to claim self-defence, despite having previously admitted to his brother that he had stabbed Nowak. He also acknowledged that a self-defence claim would be impossible if cameras were present at the scene.
In June, when Digwa was sentenced for murder, Judge William Mousley KC remarked on the irreparable harm caused to Nowak's loved ones and the wider community. The judge stated that Digwa's actions had stirred up racial tension, causing worry among Sikhs who had done nothing wrong. Henry Nowak was described as a devoted, kind, hard-working, and ambitious young man with a bright future.
The case drew significant attention, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressing distress over the footage of police handcuffing Nowak as he lay dying, calling for answers regarding the case. The incident also triggered widespread street protests.