Henry Nowak murder: Family speaks out as Home Secretary orders independent review The family of Henry Nowak share their grief and outrage following the murder review announcement. Key facts about the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa and the controversy over police response are detailed. The family of Henry Nowak have described how their lives were shattered twice following the tragic death of the 18-year-old student. His world changed initially upon receiving the news of his murder in December last year, and again when disturbing footage emerged showing police handcuffing him as he lay dying from his injuries. Police footage sparks national outrageMr Nowak was fatally stabbed with an eight-inch ceremonial dagger in Southampton on December 3, 2025. The attack was carried out by Vickrum Digwa, who falsely claimed he had been racially abused by the teenager. This incident has since triggered widespread political outrage and a government-mandated investigation into how the case was handled by authorities.The controversy intensified when police body-worn camera footage was released to the public. In the video, officers can be seen handcuffing Mr Nowak after the incident. The student is heard repeatedly telling officers, I have been stabbed. One officer responds by saying, Do not think you have, mate. This exchange has drawn severe criticism for the apparent dismissal of the victim's pleas for help at a critical moment.Katie, Mr Nowak's stepmother, recalled the horrific night the police visited their home. She described seeing the police car on the driveway and witnessing an officer holding Mr Nowak's hat. She stated that she knew immediately something terrible had happened. She also recalled Mr Nowak's father, Mark, falling to his knees and letting out a cry of shock that she will never forget.Court cases and severe prison sentencesVickrum Digwa, aged 23, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years in June. The Crown Prosecution Service released additional footage showing Digwa instructing his mother, Kiran Kaur, to take the murder weapon. Digwa was heard speaking in Punjabi, telling her to take the knife he used to kill Mr Nowak.Kiran Kaur, 53, was found guilty of assisting an offender for removing the weapon from the scene. She was jailed for three years at Southampton Crown Court. Judge William Mousley noted that a responsible parent would have challenged their son. He stated that her actions helped conceal the crime and added to the degradation of Henry being arrested while dying.Government launches independent reviewHome Secretary Shabana Mahmood recently announced an independent review into the circumstances surrounding the murder. The review will be led by former lord chancellor Alex Chalk. Its primary purpose is to examine any missed opportunities for intervention by agencies that may have been aware of Digwa's violent behavior.Mr Chalk emphasized that the review will follow the evidence without fear or favour. He highlighted that serious questions have been raised about whether organizations failed to act on complaints regarding Digwa's erratic conduct. The investigation will also assess how public authorities treated the Nowak family during their time of unimaginable pain.Family seeks justice and transparencyMr Nowak's mother, Lucy, and sister, Olivia, spoke for the first time about the moment they learned of his death. Lucy recalled being told by police that there had been an altercation and their son had passed away. She described the experience as beyond explanation, noting that no words can capture the feeling of such loss.The family has expressed that their world changed a second time when they viewed the arrest footage. They view the government review as a crucial step toward understanding what went wrong. Their testimony is part of a new documentary titled Dear Henry: Our Fight For Justice, which highlights their ongoing campaign for accountability.