Vickrum Digwa, convicted of the murder of student Henry Nowak, is appealing both his conviction and his sentence, the Court of Appeal has confirmed. Digwa was sentenced in June to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for fatally stabbing the 18-year-old in Southampton last December.
The case drew public attention after police body-worn footage emerged showing officers handcuffing Digwa as he lay dying without administering first aid, despite him stating he could not breathe. This footage sparked protests, with the Nowak family highlighting what they described as an "unbearable" disparity in treatment compared to their son.
Following the stabbing, Digwa had initially informed the police that he was the victim of a racist attack. The Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves, had previously referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal, deeming it "unduly lenient."
No date has been set for Digwa's appeal hearing or for the Solicitor General's separate bid to increase the sentence. Details regarding the grounds of Digwa's challenge have not been disclosed.