The family of Henry Nowak, who was fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, has stated that he "would have hated" the riots that ensued after his death. They also accused some politicians of playing a "game" with their son's murder.
Nowak, 18, was handcuffed by police as he lay dying in December after Digwa, 23, falsely accused him of racial abuse. Digwa was later jailed for a minimum of 21 years. The incident and its aftermath, including police body-worn camera footage showing an officer dismissing Nowak's pleas of being stabbed, sparked violent protests in Southampton.
Politicians, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, commented on the events, with discussions around "two-tier policing" emerging. However, in a new ITV Tonight documentary, "Dear Henry: Our Fight For Justice," Nowak's family expressed their desire to keep politics out of their son's story.
Nowak's mother, Lucy Ross, commented on the political discourse, stating, "I suppose that's the game they play, and I can't do anything about that. But when they think it all links together – no, it doesn't. Olivia's lost her brother, and I've lost my son. I'm not interested in your political game."
While acknowledging that people have a right to protest, Nowak's father, Mark Nowak, and stepmother, Katie Nowak, emphasized that his son was "not a divisive person" and that the political response did not align with their family's values. They stressed that their focus was on uncovering the truth about the events of that night, including the police treatment of Henry and the ability of Digwa to carry a weapon. "All of those questions have to be answered, but they're not political ones, and we've worked hard not to politicise this," Mark Nowak said.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) initially stated no officers would face investigation, but later announced two officers were under investigation for potential gross misconduct. The IOPC's investigation into potential failures in the police response is expected to conclude early next year. Separately, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has commissioned an independent review of the case.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary Chief Constable Alexis Boon apologized, stating, "I am incredibly sorry that in his final moments, when he needed us most, we failed him." The family has also claimed they were initially led to believe Henry was the aggressor and that officers provided him with immediate first aid. "I do feel we have been failed multiple times. I fear we may have been manipulated in our darkest hours," Katie Nowak said.
Digwa used an eight-inch blade to stab Nowak five times. His mother, Kiran Kaur, was jailed for three years for assisting an offender after removing the murder weapon. The Crown Prosecution Service explained that sensitive evidence could not be shared with the family until the case was trial-ready to avoid prejudicing proceedings.