By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Under current legislation, practising Sikhs have a legal defence for wearing a small, curved blade, known as a kirpan, for religious purposes. However, the blade used in the murder was a larger weapon, not a kirpan, according to the Sikh community. The perpetrator’s mother is facing sentencing for assisting an offender, while the Sikh community has condemned the killing and addressed concerns about the misuse of religious symbols. The perpetrator’s family has expressed deep sorrow and apologized to both the victim’s family and the Sikh community.
Read the original article here
The harrowing account of student Henry Nowak’s final moments, marked by his repeated pleas of “I can’t breathe” while handcuffed, paints a deeply disturbing picture of the events that led to his tragic death. Bodycam footage, released with the consent of his grieving family, tragically captures his struggle as he lay dying on the streets of Southampton. His pleas, amplified by his dire condition, were met with disbelief and a lack of immediate, life-saving action from the officers present.
Henry, an 18-year-old student, had been fatally stabbed. Despite his explicit and repeated declarations of being wounded, the initial response from an officer, as heard in the footage, dismissively stated, “I don’t think you have mate.” This incredulous reaction, in the face of a life-threatening injury, is one of the most shocking elements of this unfolding tragedy. It’s difficult to fathom how someone can hear another human being declare they’ve been stabbed and not immediately prioritize a thorough check for injuries.
The context of the stabbing is crucial to understanding the police response, though it does not excuse it. Vickrum Digwa, the killer, had falsely told police that he was the victim of a racist attack. This fabricated narrative appears to have significantly influenced how the responding officers perceived Henry Nowak, unfortunately leading them to disbelieve his claims of injury. Digwa, who has since been jailed for life with a minimum 21-year term, claimed to carry the 21cm blade as part of his Sikh faith.
Henry suffered multiple stab wounds to his legs, and a fatal blow to his heart. The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently investigating the actions of the police force. The gravity of the situation has even reached the House of Commons, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood highlighting the disturbing nature of the footage and acknowledging the powerful words of Henry’s family. She assured that the IOPC would be empowered to uncover the truth and ensure accountability.
The Nowak family has unequivocally described their son’s treatment by the police as “inhumane and degrading,” and the force has subsequently issued an apology. Henry’s father, Mark, recounted that his son had expressed his inability to breathe nine times and stated he had been stabbed four times. He vividly described how Henry was pulled across the gravel, his hands forced behind his back, and then handcuffed. The stark contrast in the treatment of Henry and Digwa, who falsely claimed to be the victim, is something the family finds “unbearable.”
The bodycam footage itself offers a chilling account. Upon arriving at the scene, an officer asks for Henry’s name. Lying on his back, Henry weakly identifies himself. Digwa then enters the frame, fabricating his story about Henry removing his turban and attacking him. When asked if he is injured, Digwa, despite being the assailant, points to a minor swollen eye. The officers then turn their attention back to Henry, who continues to repeat, “I’ve been stabbed” and then, critically, “I can’t breathe,” as he is being sat up to be handcuffed.
As the handcuffing process continues, Henry’s desperate cries of “I can’t breathe” are heard another three times. An officer’s comment in the footage, “He says he’s been stabbed, so let’s just check him,” precedes a cursory, seemingly superficial lift of Henry’s shirt around his belt area before he is left to lie on his side. Another officer then questions, “Where do you think he’s been stabbed? In the face?” to which a male voice responds, “He hasn’t been stabbed.” Henry, by this point seemingly unresponsive, is then informed he is being arrested for assault.
Hampshire police’s Deputy Chief Constable Robert France stated that CPR attempts began within three minutes of the initial interaction with Henry. He expressed deep regret that Henry could not be saved and acknowledged the tragedy of him being handcuffed and arrested as he lost consciousness. The pathologist’s evidence in court indicated that the stab wound was deep and internal, with extensive bleeding, and that officers likely could not have saved Henry’s life even with immediate intervention.
The attorney general’s office is also reviewing Vickrum Digwa’s jail sentence under the unduly lenient sentence scheme, having received multiple requests for review. While the law permits Sikhs to wear a kirpan for religious purposes, Digwa’s weapon, a 21cm blade worn openly, far exceeded the typical religious item. Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, faces sentencing for assisting an offender. The Sikh community has vehemently condemned the murder, noting that Digwa had been barred from a place of worship prior to the incident due to his past behaviour.
The Sikh Federation clarified that the weapon used was not a kirpan, and the Sikh Press Association is working to educate initiated Sikhs on kirpan rules and responsibilities. Digwa’s family has offered their profound apologies for the pain endured by the Nowak family and expressed a wish to undo the tragic events of that night. They also apologized to the Sikh community for their son’s actions and urged that the tragedy not be exploited to fuel division.
The officers involved are still being treated as witnesses by the IOPC. Director Derrick Campbell acknowledged the questions raised about the officers’ actions and stated that a large volume of body-worn footage is being reviewed in context with other evidence to establish the full circumstances. The release of this footage, permitted by the family, has undeniably brought the police response into sharp focus, highlighting a critical failure to recognize and respond appropriately to a life-threatening emergency, even as the victim explicitly articulated his pain and distress.