Vickrum Digwa, 23, has been granted permission to appeal his sentence after being convicted of murdering 18-year-old student Henry Nowak in Southampton in December. Digwa was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 21 years in June, but the Attorney General referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal as "unduly lenient," with the hearing set for 5 November. The case has attracted significant public attention owing to serious concerns about police handling of the incident, with officers having initially dismissed the victim's claims that he had been stabbed.

Following the stabbing, Digwa falsely claimed to police that he was the victim of a racist attack rather than calling for medical assistance, whilst filming Nowak as he lay dying. Nowak, described as "kind and talented" by his family, had been walking home from a night out when he was attacked with a blade that Digwa claimed to carry as part of his Sikh faith. The incident sparked protests and violence after body-worn footage showed officers handcuffing the teenager moments before he lost consciousness, with one officer dismissing his account by saying "Don't think you have mate." His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services has commenced an inspection of Hampshire Police, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating two officers for potential gross misconduct.