Man convicted of murdering student in Southampton

A man has been convicted of murder today after repeatedly stabbing a university student in Portswood last December.

Henry Nowak was on his way home from a night out with friends, when he was stabbed five times by Vickrum Digwa.

A court heard Henry, 18, had suffered significant internal bleeding from a chest wound which had been difficult to find, and was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Rather than calling an ambulance or police immediately though, Digwa filmed Henry as he sat on the floor. His mother then came and removed the knife he had used from the scene.

Today, jurors convicted Digwa, 23, of murder and possession of bladed article in a public place. Digwa's mother Kiran Kaur, 53, was found guilty of assisting an offender.

During the trial at Southampton Crown Court, it was heard officers had been called to Belmont Road in Portswood on the night of Wednesday 3 December, where it was claimed Digwa had been the victim of an assault.

On the 999 call from Digwa’s brother, on which Digwa can be heard, it was denied weapons had been used and the fatal injuries caused to Henry were never admitted to.

When officers arrived at the scene, again the same story was told. Digwa even complained of a swollen eye while disputing that he had used a knife.

Beginning enquiries into what had occurred before their arrival, Henry was initially handcuffed and told he was under arrest. However, within three minutes of their arrival the severity of his condition was becoming clear.

The handcuffs were removed, an ambulance was called and officers had started to perform CPR on Henry.

A pathologist told the court that, tragically, nothing officers could have done that night could have saved Henry's life, and he was pronounced dead at the scene in the early hours of Thursday 4 December.

Digwa was among three people arrested at the scene that night, as officers established the lies they were being told. Kaur was arrested at a nearby address.

Giving evidence at court, Digwa, of St Deny's Road, Southampton, told the jury he had been defending himself He denied charges of murder, manslaughter, and possession of an bladed article in a public place.

Kaur, also of St Deny's Road, denied assisting an offender. She did not give evidence during the trial.

Jurors found Digwa guilty of murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place. They also convicted Kaur, following the two and a half week trial.

Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Robert France said: "First and foremost, this is an unspeakable tragedy and I cannot being to imagine what Henry's family have suffered.

"I am deeply sorry that Henry could not be saved. I am deeply sorry that in the moments he lost consciousness, he had been handcuffed and arrested.

"The facts heard in court should leave no doubt in anyone's mind who was lying to officers that night, and why we didn't immediately understand what had happened.

"During the 999 call, when officers first arrived at the scene, and even when Henry's condition was deteriorating quickly, his killer continued to divert the blame, obstruct our enquiries and never admit the serious harm which had been done.

"I understand that there are many questions about what happened that night. In those moments, the officers who attended didn't have all the information we have today.

"The attending officers sought to take control of a complex situation. Based on what they had been told, they placed Henry in handcuffs.

"My officers responded swiftly to a situation which was confusing and unclear, and within minutes were giving him first aid and trying to save his life.

"The following day, we referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, who have been conducting an independent investigation into our response. We are committed to acting on their findings.

"Henry Nowak was an 18-year-old who had his whole future in front of him. That future has been cut short through a senseless attack. Today, the person who was responsible for killing Henry has rightly been convicted of his murder."