‘Brought Shame Upon Religion’: UK Sikh Man Jailed For Teen's Murder After False Racial Abuse Claim
‘Brought Shame Upon Religion’: UK Sikh Man Jailed For Teen's Murder After False Racial Abuse Claim Published By, Last Updated: June 02, 2026, 14:12 IST
‘Brought Shame Upon Religion’: UK Sikh Man Jailed For Teen's Murder After False Racial Abuse Claim Published By, Last Updated: June 02, 2026, 14:12 IST British Sikh man Vickrum Digwa gets life with minimum 21 years for murdering student Henry Nowak in Southampton. UK Sikh Man Gets Life Sentence for Teen's Murder; Court Rejects Racial Abuse Claim. A British Sikh man has been sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to serve a minimum of 21 years after being convicted of murdering an 18-year-old student in a case that drew widespread criticism over the police response to the incident. The case sparked controversy after officers handcuffed the victim while he lay seriously injured. The attacker said that he had been racially abused and acted in self-defence. Student killed while walking home Vickrum Digwa, 23, was found guilty on Friday of murdering Henry Nowak, an accountancy and finance student. The fatal stabbing took place in Southampton, England, on December 3. Nowak, who was from Essex, was walking home alone after spending the evening with friends when the attack occurred. According to the court, Digwa stabbed the teenager using a 21-centimetre blade. Digwa later admitted that he carried the weapon as part of his Sikh faith. The incident attracted national attention because of the actions taken by police officers when they arrived at the scene. According to a BBC report, Digwa falsely told officers that he had been racially abused, acted in self-defence and had suffered injuries after his turban was knocked off.
🇬🇧 Vickrum Digwa has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old university student Henry NowakAfter the attack, Digwa told arriving police officers he was the victim of a racist assault and that Nowak had knocked off his turban.… pic.twitter.com/xehL5evsBR — Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 1, 2026 Body camera footage released by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary showed the moments immediately after officers arrived. The video showed Nowak lying on the ground repeatedly saying, “I’ve been stabbed" and “I can’t breathe". Officers were seen placing him on his side before putting him in handcuffs with his hands behind his back. Within minutes, the teenager became unresponsive. One officer was heard informing him that he was under arrest for assault. Police later requested an ambulance to examine him. Following criticism over the incident, the force apologised for handcuffing Nowak and referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for review. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also commented on the case, describing it as an “awful, shocking case". In a post on X, he said it was right that the police watchdog was investigating the force’s response to the “senseless murder". Court rejects racial abuse claims Judge William Mousley, sentencing Digwa at Southampton Crown Court, said the killing was carried out using a large knife kept in a sheath attached to a belt worn outside his clothing.
The court also heard that Digwa was carrying a kirpan, a ceremonial dagger associated with Sikhism. According to the judge, Nowak had asked Digwa whether he was a “bad man". Mousley suggested the teenager may have noticed what he described as a “large Sikh dagger". However, the judge rejected claims that the victim had made racist remarks. “I am sure Henry said nothing racist," Mousley said. Addressing Digwa directly, the judge said concerns had been raised during the trial about the carrying of a kirpan, which Sikh teachings state should never be used for offensive purposes. “You have brought shame upon your family and your religion," the judge said. “Your actions have stirred up racial tension in Southampton and across the country, which has made many Sikhs worried about their safety," he added. Sikh groups defend kirpan tradition The court was told that Digwa carried a large dagger attached to his belt, while a traditional kirpan is generally a small knife concealed from view. Following the guilty verdict, several Sikh organisations urged people not to associate the crime with the kirpan. In a statement issued on Monday, Sikh Federation UK said the Crown Prosecution Service should have made it clear throughout the trial that the murder weapon was not a kirpan. “The murder weapon is of Persian origin and known by an entirely different name. It is not a Sikh ceremonial knife," the organisation said.
The City Sikhs Foundation also urged people not to blame the wider Sikh community for the actions of what it described as a “single criminal individual". The group said the kirpan is a symbolic article of faith and has been worn responsibly in Britain for generations as a reminder of the duty to protect vulnerable people. The Crown Prosecution Service denied describing the murder weapon as a kirpan. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers,... Read More Location: London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: June 02, 2026, 14:12 IST News world ‘Brought Shame Upon Religion’: UK Sikh Man Jailed For Teen's Murder After False Racial Abuse Claim Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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