Man guilty of murdering student with ceremonial knife

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A man who stabbed a university student to death with a ceremonial knife has been found guilty of murder.

Vickrum Digwa used a 21cm (8in) blade he said he carried as part of his Sikh faith to kill 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who was walking home from a night out in Southampton on 3 December.

Digwa, 23, told Southampton Crown Court a "wicked lie" that he had acted in self defence, claiming the teenager had used a racist insult, punched him and knocked his turban off.

However, the jury rejected this defence and found him guilty of murder.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the death as officers initially handcuffed and arrested the victim as he lost consciousness.

Robert France, temporary deputy chief constable, apologised and said officers had been lied to in a 999 call made by Digwa's brother and had faced an "extremely complex" crime scene.

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Digwa was also found guilty of carrying a knife in public and his mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, was found guilty of assisting an offender.

Kaur appeared visibly upset in the dock as the verdict was read out, while Digwa showed little emotion and gazed out into the courtroom.

Sobs could be heard at the back of the public gallery, while Nowak's family let out a sigh and hugged as they left the room.

Digwa will be sentenced on Monday at Southampton Crown Court, while his mother will be sentenced on 17 July.

Previously, the court heard that Nowak, a first-year student at the University of Southampton from Chafford Hundred in Essex, was walking back to his accommodation after drinking to a level that was below the drink-drive limit.

Digwa was in Belmont Road at about 23:30 GMT with the blade in a sheath around his neck.

The court was told the attack was not witnessed, but neighbours heard Nowak say he had been stabbed and was dying.

He attempted to escape by climbing over a fence, leaving a trail of blood behind him.

The prosecution said he was stabbed five times, including twice in the back of his legs, once in the face and a fatal wound to the chest.

Digwa gave the knife to his mother and it was later found by police at their family home along with more than 20 other Sikh weapons.

The court heard how Digwa lied to police, telling them he had been attacked but not letting officers know that Nowak had been hurt.

It was his brother Gurpreet Digwa who made the 999 call and repeatedly told police that his sibling had been "attacked racially", the court heard.

He told officers the brothers were restraining Nowak, saying "I can't let him go until this gets sorted".

"We're Sikhs, we wear a turban and he's just attacked my brother," Gurpreet Digwa said.

He added there were no weapons involved, telling police: "I don't know what weapons he would have seen".

Police initially handcuffed the victim before discovering his fatal injury a short time later.

Temporary deputy chief constable France told the BBC: "This was an extremely complex investigation and actually the scene itself was extremely complex when officers arrived.

"They were lied to in the 999 call by Henry's killer, they were lied to as they arrived at the scene and we know that as a result they didn't understand what had happened for several minutes and that is an absolute tragedy."

He said the force had referred itself to the IOPC.

"It is a tragedy that officers did not immediately understand what had happened to Henry," he said. "I'm sorry that he had been handcuffed and arrested as he lost consciousness. I don't want to hide the facts. I want people to understand the full facts."

Chris Philp, the Conservative shadow home secretary, said the officers' actions had been "shameful".

He said: "The police seemed more interested in cuffing someone accused of making a racist comment than in saving a dying man.

"They believed his attacker's allegations of racism without critical assessment."

He called for the force to "end on its fixation on race and alleged racism in the way it approaches policing".

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The Sikh Federation UK released a statement following the verdicts, saying: "Henry's life has tragically been cut short by a moment of madness by an individual for which there can be no excuses."

It said the wider Sikh community had "faced considerable abuse and hate during the trial", claiming that many do not "understand the law" or "significance" of the Kirpan.

Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 states that it shall be a defence for a person charged with having an article with blade or point in public place to prove that they had the article with them for religious reasons.

If the item is used in an act of violence then it is deemed an offensive weapon.

The statement said: "Fully practising Sikhs who wear a Kirpan should continue to recognise the serious responsibility that accompanies it, together with the limited legal protection that exists for wearing it for genuine religious purposes."

It said the large blade used by Digwa "was not the normal Kirpan worn by fully practising Sikhs", adding: "This was an isolated incident, the Sikh community is committed to promoting greater understanding and ensuring lessons are learned."

'Our hearts ache'

Paying tribute to Nowak after his death, his family said the accountancy and finance student had been "fully embracing university life" and had been out with his football team mates on the night of his death.

Describing him as "our kind, intelligent and talented son", they said: "Henry was loved by all those that knew him.

"Our hearts ache when we think of the bright future he had ahead of him, full of opportunity and adventures."

They added they they were "proud of him and all he achieved".

"Our world will never be the same without our amazing Henry."

Professor Jane Falkingham, vice-president of engagement and international at the University of Southampton, said: "Today is a day to remember Henry, who touched many lives and made many friends during the tragically short time he was with us.

"Henry embraced university life, making the most of every opportunity that comes with starting out in a new city, forming new friendships, and beginning a new chapter of study."