The family of murdered student Henry Nowak say they have been failed repeatedly by the authorities following his death, accusing police of giving them changing accounts of the night he was fatally stabbed and attempting to protect the force’s reputation.
The 18-year-old was stabbed five times with a ceremonial dagger by Vickrum Digwa, then 23, in Southampton last December. After the attack, Digwa filmed Henry as he tried to escape over a fence, leaving a trail of blood and shouting that he was going to die.
When officers arrived, Digwa accused Henry of making racist remarks. Police then placed the badly injured teenager in handcuffs as he lay on the ground, despite his repeated attempts to tell them he had been stabbed.
Now, ahead of an ITV Tonight documentary titled Dear Henry: Our Fight for Justice, his family have spoken about what they describe as a deeply distressing series of failures in the months following his death.
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The family of murdered student Henry Nowak say they have been ‘failed multiple times’ by authorities since his death
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The 18-year-old was knifed five times in Southampton last DecemberCredit: Solent
Family Fear They Were Misled in Their Darkest Hours
Henry’s stepmother, Katie Nowak, said the family had been left feeling that authorities had repeatedly failed them.
“I fear that we may have been manipulated in our darkest hours,” she said.
“And I fear that some decisions were made to try and protect the police and their reputation rather than help us as a family.”
The family have questioned why the initial accounts of the police response differed from what later emerged through evidence presented in court.
Body-worn camera footage played during the proceedings captured Henry repeatedly telling officers: “I’ve been stabbed.”
One officer responded: “Don’t think you have, mate.”
The footage has become a central part of the family’s concerns about how their son was treated during his final moments.
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Cops proceed to cuff Henry while he bleeds form his injuriesCredit: AFP
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Police body worn footage captures Digwa lying to police about what happenedCredit: PA
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Henry could be heard repeating ‘I’ve been stabbed’ to officers at the sceneCredit: Solent
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Digwa was jailed for a minimum of 21 years for the vile murderCredit: AP
Father Says Police Accounts Kept Changing
Henry’s father, Mark Nowak, said the family were initially told that officers had administered first aid to his son.
However, according to the family’s account, Henry’s fatal stab wounds were only discovered after officers had dismissed his pleas for help. CPR was administered eight minutes after police arrived at the scene.
Mark said the information provided to them appeared to change with each conversation.
“The story was evolving every time we had an interaction,” he said.
“That evolution of what actually happened that night really shocked us, and we felt we were being hoodwinked.
We felt we were being not told the truth.”
He also recalled being asked to approve a draft police press release that portrayed Henry as the aggressor.
“That was a statement that essentially identified the victim,” Mark said.
“So, tarnishing the victim’s name at that stage was shocking for me to hear… as I was on the way back from identifying my son’s body.”
The family also revealed that they did not watch the body-worn camera footage until the first day of Digwa’s murder trial. Katie described the experience as horrifying, while Mark called the delay in seeing the footage “inexcusable”.
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Mark Nowak said the family were initially told his son had been administered first aid by officersCredit: ITV
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Mark said the ‘story was evolving every time we had an interaction’ with authoritiesCredit: PA
Chief Constable Admits Police Failed Henry’s Family
Alexis Boon, Chief Constable of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, has acknowledged that the force failed Henry when he needed its help.
In a statement, he recognised that the family’s concerns extended beyond the events of the night itself and included their treatment throughout the investigation and afterwards.
He said:
“I recognise that, for Henry’s family, this has been about more than the circumstances of one night.
“They have rightly raised serious concerns about the police response and their treatment throughout the investigation and since. No family should ever find themselves in this position.”
Boon confirmed that the force was cooperating with several independent reviews and investigations, including those involving the Home Office, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and the coronial inquest.
He added that he would not wait for all the findings before making changes.
“Henry deserved better. His family deserved better. I am determined that we learn every lesson from this tragedy and ensure families who place their trust in us are treated with honesty, compassion and professionalism.”
Police Watchdog Changes Course Over Officer Investigation
The IOPC is conducting an investigation into potential failures in the police response to Henry’s stabbing, with its work expected to conclude early next year.
However, the family revealed that they had received a letter from the watchdog in April stating that no officers would face a conduct or criminal investigation. The letter cited “no concerns identified in relation to officer actions”.
That position changed in July, following a review of the case and Digwa’s murder conviction. The IOPC then announced that two officers were under investigation for potential gross misconduct.
IOPC director of engagement Derrick Campbell said the watchdog was committed to establishing the full circumstances surrounding Henry’s death, including whether disciplinary proceedings should be brought against any of the officers involved.
He said the investigation was examining all relevant lines of inquiry and that the organisation wanted to provide the family with answers as quickly as possible without compromising the thoroughness of its work.
Henry’s Killer Jailed for Life
Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment on June 1, with a minimum term of 21 years, after being convicted of Henry’s murder.
His mother, Kiran Kaur, was also jailed for three years for assisting an offender after removing the ceremonial dagger used in the killing.
Despite the convictions, Henry’s family continue to seek answers about the police response and the way they were treated after losing their son.
Last week, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced an independent review into Henry’s murder. The review, led by former lord chancellor Alex Chalk, will examine whether there were “any missed opportunities to intervene”, she told the House of Commons.
The review adds another layer of scrutiny to a case that has raised serious questions about the handling of Henry’s final moments and the treatment of his grieving family.
For Katie and Mark Nowak, the search for justice has not ended with the conviction of their son’s killer. They are still waiting for a full account of what happened when police arrived, why their initial explanations differed from the evidence, and whether further action should be taken against those involved.