Weapons-obsessed killer jailed for student's murder

A weapons-obsessed slayer who stabbed a pupil to decease has been jailed for beingness with a minimum of 21 years.

Vickrum Digwa, 23, utilized a 21cm (8in) leaf helium said helium carried arsenic portion of his Sikh religion to termination 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who was walking location unsocial aft a nighttime retired with friends successful Southampton connected 3 December.

The victim, from Essex, was handcuffed by constabulary arsenic helium laic dying astatine the country aft Digwa lied, claiming helium was racially abused by the teen and acted successful aforesaid defence.

Judge William Mousley KC told a packed Southampton Crown Court Digwa had brought "shame" upon his household and his religion.

He dismissed the racism claims made by Digwa, adding his actions had "stirred up radical hostility successful Southampton and crossed the state which person made galore Sikhs disquieted astir their safety".

"You were sober but were carrying a ample Sikh dagger," Mousley said.

He added Digwa had murdered a "much-loved" young man, inflicting a "lifetime of nonaccomplishment upon his family".

A verbal altercation broke retired successful tribunal arsenic Digwa was sent down from the dock.

Security guards and household members rapidly intervened to defuse the situation.

Speaking extracurricular court, the victim's father, Mark Nowak, said the opposition betwixt however his lad and Digwa had been treated was "unbearable".

"Henry should not person died connected the streets of Southampton successful constabulary custody," helium said, calling it "inhumane and degrading".

He added Digwa "was afforded decency" and "we understand, helium was ne'er handcuffed astatine all".

"Henry did not dice with dignity. He did not dice with the attraction helium deserved. He mislaid consciousness earlier anyone believed him," helium said.

He called for a "full, fearless and transparent" probe into the constabulary handling of the case, adding the household "should not person to combat for the truth".

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Inside the courtroom, helium said helium was "tormented" by thoughts of his son's death.

"I couldn't assistance Henry successful his last moments and determination is thing I tin bash to bring him back," helium said.

With his dependable breaking arsenic helium finished speaking, helium said: "To my dying son, who I emotion beyond words, I'm truthful atrocious that I fto this happen."

Prosecuting barrister Nicholas Lobbenberg KC said Digwa had a "weapons obsession", adding his depiction to constabulary of Nowak arsenic a "racist, drunk, convulsive aggressor compounds the earthy grief and nonaccomplishment of the deceased's family".

Sir Keir Starmer commented connected the lawsuit successful a station connected X, wherever helium said: "This an awful, shocking case.

"Henry's loved ones person gone done the trauma of a agelong proceedings and endured Henry's slayer making up appalling claims astir their lad who was thoughtful, benignant and profoundly loved.

"It is close that the IOPC is investigating the police's effect to his senseless murder. And we indispensable extremity the rhythm of calamity by tackling the fearfulness of weapon crime.

Nowak, from Chafford Hundred successful Essex, was a first-year pupil astatine the University of Southampton. The tribunal heard antecedently however helium had been walking backmost to his accommodation aft drinking to a level that was beneath the drink-drive limit.

Digwa was successful Belmont Road astatine astir 23:30 GMT with the execution limb successful a sheath attached to his belt.

The tribunal was told the onslaught was not witnessed, but neighbours heard Nowak accidental helium had been stabbed and was dying.

He tried to flight by climbing implicit a fence, leaving a way of humor down him.

The prosecution said helium was stabbed 5 times, including doubly successful the backmost of his legs, erstwhile successful the look and a fatal coiled to the chest.

Digwa gave the weapon to his parent and it was aboriginal recovered by constabulary astatine their household location on with much than 20 different weapons.

The tribunal heard however Digwa had lied to police, telling them helium had been attacked but not letting officers cognize that Nowak had been hurt.

When officers arrived astatine the scene, they initially handcuffed the unfortunate earlier discovering his fatal wounded a abbreviated clip later.

Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Robert France apologised and said officers had been lied to successful a 999 telephone made by Digwa's member and had faced an "extremely complex" transgression scene.

Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones described the incidental arsenic a "national tragedy".

She said it was "devastating" officers did not judge Henry Nowak erstwhile helium said helium had been stabbed and could not breathe.

"The details of the constabulary effect raises superior concerns astir constabulary impartiality, fairness and judgement," she added.

She said immoderate findings made successful the IOPC would beryllium "implemented without delay".

The Sikh Federation said the leaf utilized by Digwa was not a spiritual knife, known arsenic a Kirpan.

The BBC has contacted the CPS for a response.

Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 states that it shall beryllium a defence for a idiosyncratic charged with having an nonfiction with leaf oregon constituent successful nationalist spot to beryllium that they had the nonfiction with them for spiritual reasons.

If the point is utilized successful an enactment of unit past it is deemed an violative weapon.

Following Digwa's conviction, salient right-wing figures, including the world's richest antheral Elon Musk, person criticised existent UK instrumentality astir carrying the knife.

Digwa was besides sentenced for carrying a weapon successful nationalist and his mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, was recovered blameworthy of assisting an offender aft she attempted to fell the leaf utilized successful the attack. She volition beryllium sentenced connected 17 July.