Killer filmed Henry Nowak as he died, appeal court hears

Vickrum Digwa, 23, is appealing his life sentence for murdering 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton, while the Attorney General argues the minimum term is too short. The case has drawn attention to Digwa’s actions after the stabbing and the handling of the religious exemption that allowed him to carry a bladed weapon.

The Court of Appeal heard that Digwa stabbed Nowak repeatedly with an eight-inch ceremonial knife, then filmed him as he lay dying and falsely claimed he had been attacked. Nowak was handcuffed before receiving medical attention; body-worn footage of the incident later prompted protests. Digwa was sentenced in June to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years, which prosecutors say does not reflect the aggravating circumstances. He is also seeking to challenge his conviction, though permission for that appeal has not yet been decided.