Digwa's Life Sentence for Nowak Murder Referred as 'Unduly Lenient'
Attorney General challenges minimum term for killer who made false racism claims and abused religious knife exemption.
Carla Rooney
Vickrum Digwa's life sentence for the murder of Henry Nowak has been referred to the Court of Appeal.
Digwa received a life sentence in June for the murder of Henry Nowak, with a minimum term of 21 years. The Attorney General now challenges this sentence, arguing it fails to account for significant aggravating factors.
Jonathan Polnay KC, representing Ellie Reeves, argued Digwa deserved a longer sentence. He cited Digwa's false claims that Nowak had racially abused him and knocked off his turban when police arrived at the murder scene.
Polnay stated the sentence did not adequately reflect a series of "significant aggravating factors." These included Digwa's "false allegation of racism against the deceased" and his "abuse of the privilege" afforded to Sikhs to carry a knife in public for religious reasons.
The offender carried a substantial bladed weapon in public, immediately available for use, Polnay said. He repeatedly deployed it against an unarmed and defenceless stranger, abusing a statutory religious exemption permitting him to carry that weapon.
Judge William Mousley KC noted at Digwa’s sentencing hearing that Digwa possessed a kirpan and a large dagger, permitted under certain Sikh traditions. Judge Mousley stated the privilege extended to practising Sikhs of being allowed to be in public with a bladed article, particularly a highly dangerous weapon like the large dagger, brings with it huge responsibility.
Polnay clarified that the attempt to increase the sentence was "not about the lawful possession of a kirpan" or the laws allowing Sikhs to carry blades. He stated: "It is about what followed."
Jonathan Polnay KC indicated that When a person with the benefit of that accommodation uses the article protected by law for repeated lethal violence, it becomes an aggravating factor of particular weight.
He argued Digwa’s use of the dagger was, "on at least one level, analogous to an abuse of trust." When a person with the benefit of that accommodation uses the article protected by law for repeated lethal violence, it becomes an aggravating factor of particular weight.
Other aggravating factors included Digwa’s "degradation of the dying victim by filming him, and his conduct in misleading responders," Polnay claimed. He concluded that the minimum term imposed failed adequately to reflect the combined weight of those features.
Separately, Kiran Kaur received a three-year sentence for disposing of the weapon used in Henry Nowak's murder. Lucy Ross, speaking about Kaur, said: "As soon as she gets out, she could arrange a visiting order to go see (Digwa). She's lucky enough that she could go and see her boy. I have to go to Henry's grave to see Henry."
Ross also criticised Kaur, stating: "Mother to mother – she is no mother. We all protect our children, but we also protect our children from right and wrong. But she never did the right thing. She hid the knife, which had Henry's blood on it."
I have to go to Henry's grave to see Henry.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced an independent review into Henry Nowak's murder. The first phase of this review will consider the treatment of the Nowak family by criminal justice agencies.
The second phase will follow a probe by the Independent Office for Police Conduct into police actions at the scene. Hampshire Police's handling of the killing is also under investigation by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services and the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Police body-worn video was released showing officers handcuffing Mr Nowak as he lay dying. Members of Mr Nowak’s family attended the hearing, which was temporarily paused due to a fire alarm at the Royal Courts of Justice.
The Sentencing Act 2026 means most inmates serving standard fixed-term sentences are automatically let out on licence after a third of their term. Digwa watched proceedings from HMP Frankland in County Durham.
Katie Nowak expressed the family's distress, stating: "It's another process that we've got to go through. It's another fight that we have to have. It was a very clear verdict. It's not right that he's allowed to do this." She added: "I'd say that victims need to have far more weight and thought given to how they feel. Because throughout this whole process, it doesn't feel like anyone's on your side."