Vickrum Digwa,a 23‑year‑old Sikh man, was convicted on Thursday for the December 3, 2022 murder of 18‑year‑old university student Henry Nowak in Southampton.. New evidence shows Digwa performed a ceremonial knife demonstration at a London Sikh event in May 2023 , while police later handcuffed the dying Nowak after he was falsely accused of racist abuse.

May 2023 Gatka video shows Digwa brandishing ceremonial knives

The Daily Mail obtained a 30‑second clip filmed in May 2023 that captures Digwa and his older brother Gurpreet performing a traditional Gatka display in London. Both men are dressed in turbans and Sikh attire, sparring with knives and small shields before an audience. The footage reveals Digwa picking up a knife from a floor array and thrusting it into his brother’s shield,a routine that underscores his long‑standing fascination with weaponry.

Local Sikh sources told the newspaper that Digwa and Gurpreet had briefly taught Gatka before cutting ties over concerns about Digwa’s behaviour. The video has prompted questions about whether community leaders or authorities could have intervened before his obsession turned lethal.

December 3 stabbing of Henry Nowak in Southampton city centre

According to court testimony,Nowak was on his way home from a night out when he encountered Digwa, who was openly carrying an “extremely large knife in a sheath” over his clothing. Digwa attacked, stabbing Nowak six times, including an 8 cm deep wound to the chest. the victim, a first‑year student at the University of Southampton, collapsed and bled to death on the street.

During the chaotic aftermath, Digwa claimed to officers that Nowak had shouted racist abuse, punched him and knocked off his turban. The false allegation was accepted without critical assessment, leading to the next controversial police action.

Police handcuffing of dying victim sparks MP outrage

Deputy Chief Constable Robert France later apologised for the decision to handcuff Nowak, who was already mortally wounded. MPs blasted the move as a “shocking example of two‑tier policing.” Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the incident “the most shocking example of two‑tier policing I have ever seen,” while Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said officers seemed more interested in cuffing an alleged racist than saving a dying man.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has opened an investigation, and families are demanding the release of body‑cam footage to assess exactly how the false claim was processed.

Calls for body‑cam release and IOPC probe

Legal experts and civil‑rights groups are urging Hampshire Police to publish the arrest footage, arguing that transparency is essential to restore public confidence. the IOPC’s involvement suggests a formal review of whether officers followed proper protocol when evaluating Digwa’s racism claim.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has even offered to fund a private prosecution against the police, highlighting the case’s international resonance and the broader debate over anti‑racism training’s impact on police judgement.

Did officers verify Digwa’s racism claim?

The trial revealed that officers accepted Digwa’s accusation without seeking corroborating evidence, a point that remains under scrutiny. Sources close to the investigation have not confirmed whether any attempt was made to interview witnesses or review nearby CCTV before detaining Nowak.

As the IOPC review proceeds, the unanswered question of how quickly police can differentiate genuine hate‑crime reports from manipulative falsehoods will shape future training and response protocols.