Court of Appeal to review Henry Nowak killer's sentence

The sentence given to the man who murdered 18-year-old student Henry Nowak has been referred to the Court of Appeal for review. Solicitor General Ellie Reeves announced the referral on Monday, stating she had used the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme after the case "horrified" her and the British public.

Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment earlier this month with a minimum term of 21 years. He was convicted of murdering Mr. Nowak in Southampton on December 3, 2025. The student was stabbed multiple times with a ceremonial blade Digwa claimed he carried as part of his Sikh faith.

The case has drawn intense public scrutiny and outrage, amplified by the release of police body-worn camera footage. The video showed Mr. Nowak, while handcuffed and lying on the ground, repeatedly telling officers he had been stabbed and could not breathe. One officer responded, "I don't think you have, mate." Prosecutors stated that Digwa had falsely claimed to be the victim of a racist attack by Mr. Nowak, which led police to initially detain the fatally wounded teenager. Mr. Nowak lost consciousness at the scene and later died.

In her statement, Solicitor General Reeves acknowledged the...