Details Emerge Regarding Response to Fatal Stabbing
Newly released evidence indicates that police officers took eight minutes to discover the fatal stab wound that killed Henry Nowak. The incident, which occurred in Southampton, saw officers initially fail to locate the injury on the 18-year-old student, despite his repeated claims of being stabbed.
Vickrum Digwa was subsequently jailed for life for the stabbing. Following his conviction, body-worn camera footage from an attending officer drew significant public scrutiny and led to civil unrest in Southampton. In response to public criticism, a full transcript of the recording was released exclusively to the BBC, with the consent of Henry's family.
The Incident Unfolds
The transcript reveals that Digwa consistently provided false information to the police, alleging that Henry Nowak had racially attacked him. This narrative initially led officers to disbelieve Henry's urgent pleas that he had been stabbed. The officer heard in the video telling Henry, "Don't think you have mate," before restraining him, is detailed in the transcript.
Timings within the transcript show that it took police eight minutes from their arrival on the scene to discover the critical stab wound in Henry's chest. Efforts to save Henry's life continued for an additional 51 minutes until an emergency doctor, flown in by helicopter, pronounced him dead at 00:37 on December 4, 2025.
Judge William Mousley KC, presiding over Digwa's sentencing, remarked on the officer's genuine shock upon realizing Henry had a serious chest wound while CPR was being administered. He noted this suggested the officer was acting to the best of his ability in a challenging situation, further acknowledging that officers had been presented with a "convincing but wholly false narrative" and that individuals under arrest sometimes feign injury.
Evidence presented during Digwa's trial highlighted the severity of the chest wound. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary stated that the pathologist testified that "there was nothing officers could have done that day to save Henry," as the wound had caused "extensive" internal bleeding. The force has issued an apology to Henry Nowak's family for how he was treated at the scene.
Chief Constable Alexis Boon commented on the bodycam footage, calling it "a tragedy, an absolute tragedy" that was difficult to watch, and expressed his sympathy for the family.
Ongoing Investigations and Reviews
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently investigating the officers' actions on the night of the stabbing, with preliminary findings anticipated in September. A full jury inquest into Henry's death is scheduled to commence at Winchester Coroner's Court on September 20, 2027, to determine if any "act or omission by a police officer" contributed to his death.
Furthermore, the attorney general's office has referred Digwa's 21-year minimum jail sentence to the Court of Appeal for review under the unduly lenient sentence scheme, following multiple requests.
Source: Police took eight minutes to find Henry Nowak's fatal stab wound