New Evidence Reveals Killer’s Persistent Deceptions in Henry Nowak’s Murder Case
Henry Nowak s killer repeatedly lie – Hampshire police have released body-worn video footage that exposes the repeated falsehoods of Vickrum Digwa, the man convicted of Henry Nowak’s murder. The recording, obtained by the BBC, captures Digwa’s insistent claims of being “racially attacked” and his insistence that Henry was “obviously drunk” during the fatal incident. These statements contradict the evidence presented in court, where Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 21 years for the December stabbing that killed the 18-year-old Southampton university student.
Contrasting Treatment Sparks Family Outcry
The Nowak family highlighted the stark difference in how Henry and Digwa were treated by officers. They stated that Henry was handcuffed while dying, while Digwa remained free during his four days in custody. This disparity was described as “unbearable” by the family, who pointed to earlier footage of Henry in restraints as a catalyst for public outrage and unrest in Southampton.
“The way my son was treated was inhumane and degrading,” said Mark Nowak, Henry’s father, whose family hails from Chafford Hundred in Essex. “While his murderer was shown decency, Henry was left vulnerable.”
Previously, the video of Henry in handcuffs had drawn national attention, fueling protests and disorder. Hampshire police confirmed to BBC South that Digwa was never restrained during his custody period, a detail now corroborated by the new footage.
Digwa’s Claims and the Hair Evidence
The latest video, shared by the Crown Prosecution Service and Hampshire police, begins at 23:47 GMT, shortly after medics take over CPR efforts from officers. It shows Digwa complaining about emergency lights, requesting they be turned off, and asking to move to reduce visual strain. Meanwhile, the officer reads Henry his rights, a moment the family claimed was the last words Henry heard before losing consciousness.
In the footage, Digwa repeats his narrative of self-defense, insisting Henry had “barged” into him, used a racial slur, and called him a “bad man.” He says: “I said ‘yeah I am a bad man.’ He then started recording me. Obviously then I’ve just [inaudible] I pushed him. He’s then grabbed me, then started grabbing my turban, pulled my hair, started punching me and all this sort of stuff.”
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Digwa’s story was inconsistent with the physical evidence. Video footage taken after the attack shows Digwa’s hair neatly tied up on his head, while officers’ bodycam recordings reveal it as loose and unkempt when they arrived. This discrepancy, they claimed, undermines his assertion of self-defense from the outset.
Key Details From the Trial
Southampton Crown Court was informed that Henry’s blood alcohol level was low enough to pass a breathalyser test, indicating he was not intoxicated at the time of the attack. Despite this, Digwa never mentioned the multiple stab wounds he inflicted, leading officers to initially doubt Henry’s account. It took eight minutes to locate the fatal injury in Henry’s chest, a delay the family attributes to the lack of belief in the victim’s testimony.
As resuscitation efforts continued, Digwa’s complaints about the environment were muted by police in the nine-minute clip. The officer later arrests him after discussing a bystander’s video, stating: “This is really important, OK. The time now is 11.55.” Digwa responds: “What?” before being informed: “You don’t have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned, something which you may later rely on in court.”
