The family of Henry Nowak, who was fatally stabbed and then handcuffed by police as he lay dying, claim that authorities may have delayed showing them bodycam footage of his wrongful arrest in the hope that his attacker would plead guilty. This would have prevented the "sickening arrest footage" from becoming public.

Henry's family said in an ITV documentary that they fear decisions were made to protect police reputation rather than to assist them during their "darkest hours." The 18-year-old student was stabbed in Southampton on December 3, and the shocking body-worn camera footage of his arrest was not shown to his family until the first day of his attacker's trial on May 14, five months later.

In the footage, Nowak can be heard repeatedly saying, "I've been stabbed" and "Call an ambulance," to which an officer replies, "Don't think you have, mate."

Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder, a term that was later increased to a minimum of 25 years. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation into the police response.

Weeks before the trial, the family received a letter from the IOPC stating there was "no evidence of serious wrongdoing by officers." However, upon viewing the bodycam footage in court, they described the experience as "just horror." Henry's stepmother, Katie Nowak, said, "In the last year, our world has changed twice – the first time was the night that we were told that Henry had died, and the second time was when we watched that video." She added that seeing the footage made them question whether they had been told the truth.

When asked why police might have waited to show the family the video, Katie Nowak suggested, "We've always felt that there was a slight hope that Vickrum may have pleaded guilty and if he'd have pleaded guilty, the truth may never have come out." Henry's father, Mark Nowak, agreed, stating, "The video would never have been shown – if there'd been no trial there would have been no opportunity to see that video." He described the "lack of truth and integrity throughout" as the most infuriating aspect for the family.

The family also raised concerns about the initial information provided by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. They stated that police suggested Henry had been the instigator of the violence and asked about his and their political views shortly after informing them of his death. The family found these questions unusual given the circumstances.

They recounted that police initially claimed officers administered first aid upon arrival. However, the bodycam footage showed Henry was handcuffed and arrested. It took nearly eight minutes for officers to notice the stab wound, and over 20 minutes to arrest the correct suspect. Mark Nowak described the evolving narrative from the police as "hoodwinked" and a feeling of not being told the truth.

Initial posts on the Southampton Police Facebook page suggested that Henry had started the violence, referring to him as an "unknown man" who attacked individuals. The day after identifying his son's body, Mark Nowak was asked to approve a press release that again depicted Henry as the aggressor.

Digwa used an eight-inch blade to stab Henry five times, with the fatal blow to his chest. Henry's final words before he died were, "Please, brother. I can't breathe." His mother, Lucy Ross, expressed anguish over how her son was treated in his final moments.

Henry's father has called for changes to knife-carrying laws, specifically regarding the definition of a kirpan, a religious knife Sikhs are required to carry. He suggested that the knife used in the attack may not fit the traditional definition of a kirpan. The IOPC investigation into the police response is expected to conclude early next year, with two officers currently under investigation for potential gross misconduct. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced an independent review of the case, and a full inquest into Henry's death is scheduled for next year.

Chief Constable Alexis Boon of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary apologized to the family, stating, "I am incredibly sorry that in his final moments, when he needed us most, we failed him." He added, "Henry deserved better. His family deserved better. I am determined that we learn every lesson from this tragedy."