Police handcuffed dying student after believing false attack claim

A man has been sentenced to life in prison for stabbing Henry Nowak, 18, in Southampton on 3 December 2025. Vickrum Digwa, 23, killed Nowak and then told police that Nowak had racially abused him and that he had acted in self-defence. This was false. Officers at the scene handcuffed Nowak as he lay dying. Nowak told them he had been stabbed, but they did not believe him at first. His family had to wait 24 hours before police told them he had died. Digwa must serve at least 21 years before he can be considered for release. The police watchdog has opened an investigation into how officers handled the incident. Nowak's family says police misled them in the months after his death.