Henry Nowak: Hampshire police release bodyworn camera footage of Southampton University murder victim being handcuffed
Hampshire police have released bodyworn camera footage of the moment a university student who had just been stabbed was handcuffed by officers
On December 3, Henry Nowak, a student at the University of Southampton, was on his way home from a night out with friends when he was stabbed five times by Vickrum Digwa, 23.
Using an 8in blade, a ceremonial dagger Digwa was carrying because of his Sikh religion, Digwa inflicted chest wounds on Nowak which caused significant internal bleeding.
Rather than calling an ambulance or police immediately though, Digwa filmed Henry as he sat on the floor. Digwa's mother then arrived at the scene and removed the knife.
When police arrived, Digwa claimed that he had acted in self-defence, accusing Henry of being racist.
This led to Henry being arrested and handcuffed.
In the footage released with the family’s permission, Nowak can be heard saying “I can’t breathe” and “I’ve been stabbed” multiple times as he is handcuffed on the ground.
In response, the officer handcuffing Nowak says, “I don’t think you have, mate.”
“It is devasting the officers did not believe Henry when he said he’d been stabbed and couldn’t breathe,” Donna Jones, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, said in a statement.
“When officers realised he was gravely wounded, they uncuffed him and started CPR.”
Despite these efforts, he died moments later.
A pathologist told the court that nothing officers could have done that night could have saved Henry's life.
“My thoughts my remain with his family and I will do everything I can to ensure this can never happen again in this country,” said Mrs Jones.
Digwa denied charges of murder, manslaughter, and possession of a bladed article in a public place. On Thursday he was found guilty of murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place and and on Monday was sentenced to a minimum term of 21 years' imprisonment.
Digwa's mother Kiran Kaur, 53, was also found guilty of assisting an offender.
The sentencing judge told Digwa: “You have brought misery and a lifetime of loss upon his family and great sadness to everyone who knew him."