The minimum 21-year jail term handed to Vickrum Digwa for the murder of university student Henry Nowak has been officially referred to the Court of Appeal. Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC ordered the review under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, stating that the case "horrified" her and the British public.

 

Prosecutors in Henry Nowak Murder Trial Appeal Vickrum Digwa’s LENIENT Sentence

The minimum 21-year jail term handed to Vickrum Digwa for the murder of university student Henry Nowak has been officially referred to the Court of Appeal. Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC ordered the review under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, stating that the case "horrified" her and the British public.

The Court of Appeal will determine whether the current minimum sentence fell outside a reasonable range and should be increased.

Case Background

• The Crime: On December 3, 2025, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa fatally stabbed 18-year-old Southampton University student Henry Nowak with a 21cm ceremonial blade.
• The Cover-up: Digwa lied to arriving police officers, claiming Nowak had launched a racist attack against him.
• The Police Response: Misled by Digwa's lies, Hampshire police handcuffed a dying Nowak and treated him as a suspect, ignoring his pleas that he could not breathe.
• The Trial: Digwa was found guilty of murder at Southampton Crown Court after the jury rejected his claims of self-defense. On June 1, 2026, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years.

The Core Controversy

The initial sentencing calculation by Judge William Mousley KC used a statutory starting point of 15 years. Aggravating features—including Digwa's persistent lies that led police to ignore Nowak's fatal injuries—pushed the term to 23 years, which was mitigated down to 21 years.

However, legal experts and public figures argue the judge should have applied a 25-year starting point under Schedule 21 of the Sentencing Act 2020 because Digwa brought a weapon to the scene.

Broader Fallout

• Public Outrage: Newly released body-worn camera footage showing a dying Nowak handcuffed while Digwa sat unrestrained sparked widespread public fury and violent protests in Southampton.
• Independent Investigations: The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is actively investigating the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary's handling of the incident.
• Further Trials: Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, was convicted of assisting an offender for trying to hide the murder weapon and is scheduled for sentencing on July 17, 2026