Nowak Murderer Granted Leave to Appeal Sentence

Vickrum Digwa, the man convicted of stabbing University of Southampton student Henry Nowak to death, has been granted leave to appeal against the length of his sentence. The 23-year-old was originally jailed for life in June with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder, which took place in Southampton in December 2025.

The Court of Appeal will hear the challenge on 5 November. Alongside Digwa’s appeal, the court will also consider a referral by the Attorney General’s office, which argued that the initial sentence was unduly lenient. Former Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC made the referral on 15 June under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Digwa has separately applied to appeal against his murder conviction, a request that will be determined independently. He was also sentenced for possessing a knife in public, having claimed during trial that the 21cm blade was carried as part of his Sikh faith.

The case has ignited significant public controversy. After the stabbing, Digwa falsely told police he was the victim of a racist attack. Tensions escalated further when body-worn footage was released showing officers handcuffing Nowak while he lay dying, rather than administering first aid. The Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed it is investigating two officers for potential gross misconduct.

Protests erupted in Southampton on 2 June, resulting in injuries to twelve police officers and a police dog. Demonstrators gathered outside the city centre police station before moving toward the Digwa family home and the scene of the crime. More than 30 individuals have since been charged with violent disorder in connection with the unrest.

Sikh community leaders have reported a rise in hate crimes and backlash against their community following the high-profile case. Henry Nowak, who was from Chafford Hundred in Essex, was 18 years old at the time of his death.