Vickrum Digwa, who murdered 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton in December 2025, will serve a minimum of 24 years and 190 days in prison after the Court of Appeal increased his sentence from 21 years, deeming the original term “unduly lenient.” Digwa stabbed Nowak multiple times before falsely claiming the victim had racially abused him, a claim later found to be a lie. The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves, successfully appealed the initial sentencing, arguing it did not adequately reflect the severity of the crime. Digwa had been carrying both a small kirpan, legally permitted for baptised Sikhs, and a larger dagger, a practice associated with the Nihang Sikh order.
The court found that while carrying the kirpan itself was lawful, the use of the larger dagger in the fatal stabbing was a significant aggravating factor. Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr stated the original sentence understated the repeated use of a large dagger with intent to kill, as well as the “deliberate cruelty” and obstruction of justice that followed. Digwa filmed Nowak as he lay dying and attempted to mislead emergency services. His mother, Kiran Kaur, received a three-year sentence for assisting an offender by removing the knife from the scene.
The case led to riots in Southampton. Nowak’s family released a statement calling the increased sentence “an important step towards justice,” but emphasizing that no sentence could bring their son back. They stated their “fight for justice is far from over” and will support an independent review of the case.
Left-leaning outlets highlighted the brutality of the crime and Digwa’s attempts to pervert the course of justice, while right-leaning coverage focused on the sentence increase itself and Digwa’s failed attempt to reduce his term.
Our reading is that the increase in Digwa’s sentence reflects a determination to ensure the severity of his crime is fully acknowledged, despite his attempts to appeal and misrepresent the situation. The differing coverage across outlets suggests a clear ideological split in how the case is framed, with some prioritizing the brutality of the act and the obstruction of justice, while others focus on the legal process of the sentence increase. The riots in Southampton, while briefly noted, indicate a level of public unrest and emotional response beyond the courtroom.
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