Killer of Henry Nowak Allowed to Appeal Sentence

Vickrum Digwa, the man convicted of murdering 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, has been granted permission to appeal the length of his 21-year minimum sentence. Digwa, 23, was sentenced in June for the December murder of Nowak in Southampton. He used a blade, which he stated he carried as part of his Sikh faith, to stab Nowak as the student was walking home from a night out.

In June, Attorney General Ellie Reeves referred Digwa's sentence to the Court of Appeal, deeming it "unduly lenient." Subsequently, Digwa also sought to challenge his conviction and sentence. Court officials confirmed on Tuesday that a judge has authorized Digwa to appeal his sentence. This appeal will be heard concurrently with the Attorney General's effort to increase his jail term on November 5.

Digwa's separate bid to overturn his conviction is still under review, with no decision yet made on whether to permit that challenge.

Nowak's murder led to protests and unrest after the release of police body-worn camera footage. The video showed officers handcuffing Nowak, from Chafford Hundred, Essex, shortly before he became unconscious. Nowak had told officers at the scene that he had been stabbed, but one officer appeared to dismiss his claim.

Digwa initially misled police by claiming he was the victim of a racist attack. Instead of calling for medical assistance or alerting authorities, Digwa filmed Nowak as he lay dying.

In response to the events, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services began an inspection of Hampshire Police last month. This inspection was requested by Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones and will examine the entire process from call handling and dispatch to the initial response in serious violence incidents.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct had previously launched an investigation in July into two officers concerning potential gross misconduct related to their interactions with Nowak on the night he was stabbed. The watchdog is also investigating whether race or religion influenced the officers' decisions.