Vickrum Digwa, who was convicted of murdering Henry Nowak, has applied to the Court of Appeal to have his conviction quashed and his sentence reduced, The Mirror reports. Digwa, 23, was sentenced last month to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years for stabbing the 18-year-old finance student to death in December with a ceremonial dagger.
Digwa had claimed that Mr. Nowak subjected him to racist abuse and assaulted him, knocking off his turban. However, the judge at Southampton Crown Court, William Mousley, rejected these claims, stating, "I am sure that Henry said nothing racist." The judge added that Digwa was the only person to make such a claim, which was "completely at odds with his previous character."
Mr. Nowak was arrested while injured and died in police custody, a situation that sparked widespread outrage, particularly after bodycam footage showed him handcuffed and repeatedly saying, "I can't breathe." The circumstances of his arrest and death have drawn criticism.
Adding to the legal proceedings, Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC has applied for Digwa's sentence to be reconsidered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The Court of Appeal confirmed that Digwa's case had previously been referred to them as unduly lenient. An official stated that Digwa "has also recently lodged an application for leave to appeal conviction and sentence."
An appeal court judge will now decide if Digwa is granted the opportunity to appeal his conviction and sentence. If granted, the case will be heard by three judges at the Court of Appeal Criminal Division.
Digwa carried the ceremonial knife, which had a 21cm blade, and claimed it was part of his Sikh religious practice. Records show that Digwa had been investigated by police in 2023 on suspicion of stealing ceremonial blades from a Sikh temple in Southampton, but no further action was taken.
Following Mr. Nowak's death, his family described him as 'kind and talented.' The case also saw controversy over the decision not to charge Digwa's brother, Gurpreet Digwa, who had accused Mr. Nowak of racism and being the aggressor. Gurpreet Digwa had called 999 and told police they had been racially attacked by a white person. Evidence presented during Vickrum Digwa's trial also suggested Gurpreet may have committed perjury, assisted an offender, and obstructed police. Hampshire Police did not ask the Crown Prosecution Service to consider charges against Gurpreet over Henry's murder, a decision that has led to calls for a reinvestigation.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had previously stated he "felt sick" watching the footage of Mr. Nowak being handcuffed while dying and that "serious questions" needed to be answered. Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC has acknowledged the public sentiment, stating, "It is right that difficult questions need to be answered about the way the police handled Henry Nowak's murder, while my role is to review Digwa's sentence for his crimes."