Violent clashes break out after sentencing in Henry Nowak murder case
Violence broke out in Southampton with police being pelted with missiles during a protest over Henry Nowak’s murder.
The 18-year-old finance student was killed by Vickrum Digwa on his way home from a night out on 3 December 2025.
Digwa lied to officers at the scene and claimed to have been the victim of a racist attack.
Bodycam footage from the incident showed Nowak repeatedly telling officers he’d been stabbed, to which one replied: “Don’t think you have, mate.”
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On Monday, 23-year-old Digwa was given a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years in prison for stabbing Nowak.
Following the sentencing protesters took to the streets of Southampton last night (Tuesday 2 June), chanting: “Henry, Henry.”
However, the protests took a violent turn with demonstrators hurling bricks, bins, and chairs at officers.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the scenes in Portswood as ‘completely unacceptable’ and accused the demonstrators of ‘hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder’ in defiance of a plea by the Nowak family not to use the murder to feed division and hatred.
“The Nowak family made a powerful call to us all yesterday to not let Henry’s death be used to create further division, hatred or tension,” the Home Secretary said.
“There can be no justification for hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder.
"Those responsible can expect to face the full force of the law.
“I thank the police who have tonight shown great bravery and calm in the face of disgraceful violence directed at them.”
Speaking after Digwa was sentenced on Monday, Nowak’s father Mark Nowak said: “We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension.”
The clashes with police come amid growing tensions and scrutiny over how officers dealt with the incident which included arresting and handcuffing Nowak as he lay dying.
NPCC chairman Gavin Stephens said: “We are listening to legitimate concerns about how some of these commitments are worded or phrased, and where needed we can and will make changes, but this should not detract from the intent, which is to improve the quality of policing.”
In a statement Hampshire Police said one of the officers involved in the case has since resigned, while three others are still working for the force.
All four of them are being treated as witnesses, the force added.
Claire Reid