A judge has sentenced Vickrum Digwa to life in prison for the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in a case that has shocked Britain and sparked national debate

Henry’s family read out a statement outside Southampton Crown Court

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The man who fatally stabbed University of Southampton student Henry Nowak with a Sikh ceremonial knife has been jailed for life, bringing a dramatic conclusion to one of the UK’s most disturbing recent murder cases.

Vickrum Digwa, 23, was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years after being found guilty of murdering the 18-year-old during a confrontation in Southampton.

The case drew widespread attention after shocking bodycam footage emerged showing Henry repeatedly telling officers, “I’ve been stabbed, I can’t breathe,” while the true circumstances of the attack were still being established.

Prosecutors told the court that Digwa stabbed Henry multiple times using a ceremonial Sikh kirpan, inflicting wounds to his legs and a fatal wound to his chest.

Even after the attack, the court heard that Digwa falsely claimed he was the victim and denied stabbing Henry while police attempted to understand what had happened.

A Life Cut Tragically Short

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During sentencing, the judge described the devastating impact of the murder.

Addressing Digwa directly, he said Henry had been robbed of a future that should have included a long, happy, and fulfilling life.

The court also rejected claims that Henry had made racist remarks before the attack.

The judge stated he was satisfied that no racist language had been used and noted that the allegation was inconsistent with Henry’s character.

Heartbreaking victim impact statements revealed the depth of the family’s loss.

Henry’s mother described him as ambitious, determined, and full of life.

His sister called him her first best friend and said the world became less valuable the day he died.

National Outrage Over the Final Moments

The case has continued to generate public discussion because of what happened after the stabbing.

Bodycam footage and emergency call recordings revealed confusion at the scene, with police initially responding to claims that Digwa had been attacked rather than Henry.

Investigations into the police response remain a major focus of public attention, and senior figures have acknowledged the seriousness of the concerns raised by the footage.

For Henry’s family, however, the legal outcome cannot undo the loss.

Their focus remains on remembering a young man whose life ended far too soon.

As tributes continue to pour in, many people across Britain remain haunted by the same question:

How did an 18-year-old university student with his entire future ahead of him end up spending his final moments pleading for help that came too late?