Devastating police transcript released following Henry Nowak murder incident
WARNING: This article contains information which some readers may find distressing.
It took eight minutes for police to locate the stab wound which killed Henry Nowak, according to new evidence.
18-year-old Henry Nowak died after being fatally stabbed in December last year as he was heading back to his university accommodation in Southampton.
Nowak's killer, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, was later arrested and found guilty of murder and carrying a knife in public, receiving a life sentence.
Advert
During the trial it was revealed that Henry had been arrested as he lay dying, after Digwa told police officers that he'd been racially abused by the University of Southampton student.
Harrowing bodycam footage from the night of 3 December was also released, with Henry heard telling police that he'd been stabbed and now couldn't breathe, to which one of the attending officers replied: "Don't think you have mate."
The footage led to violent disorder in Southampton, as well as backlash over how police handled the incident.
Police took eight minutes to locate wound
Following the backlash, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police has now released a full transcript of the bodycam footage, revealing that it took officers eight minutes to locate the fatal wound which took Henry's life.
Initially obtained by the BBC, the transcript reveals that the female officer attending the scene discovers the stab wound after cutting open his shirt, saying: "Yes, he’s got a stab… there’s a mark there."
Prior to the discovery of the stab wound, Henry had told officers numerous times that he was struggling to breathe before eventually losing consciousness.
At around three minutes and five seconds into the transcript, the male officer tells his colleague 'I'm not sure he's breathing."
They proceed to uncuff Henry and start CPR.
In the transcript, police officer one said: "Come on mate. That’s it, that’s it. Keeping breathing. Come on."
Following the discovery of the stab wound, the male officer reacts in shock, after realising he has been performing chest compressions on a stab wound.
"That makes it worse," he can be heard saying. "He’s got a stab… I’m pushing on a f***ing stab wound."
"That’s okay. It’s fine… It’s not coming out," the female officer replies, "It’s fine. Keep going. Keep going. It’s not bleeding out."
The video ends as paramedics arrive on scene, with the officers informing them that a stab wound has been located on Henry's chest.
Hampshire police has since apologised to the Nowak family for the way Henry was treated during his final moments.
"This is an absolutely tragic case, and my sympathies are absolutely with Henry’s family, his friends, and his loved ones," Deputy Chief Constable Robert France, said.
"I want to apologise, I want to say that I am sorry that Henry couldn’t be saved that night. I’m sorry that he was handcuffed and arrested in the moments before he lost consciousness."
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating Hampshire Police’s response.
Brenna Cooper