Digwa Gets Permission to Appeal 21-Year Sentence

Vickrum Digwa has been granted permission to appeal the minimum 21-year term imposed for murdering Henry Nowak, with his challenge scheduled to be heard alongside the Attorney General’s bid to increase the sentence on November 5. The separate question of whether Digwa may appeal his conviction remains undecided. Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years in June for stabbing Nowak, an 18-year-old student, to death in Southampton. Court officials confirmed on September 29 that a judge had granted permission for Digwa to appeal the sentence. The appeal does not change the sentence while the Court of Appeal considers the competing requests. Attorney General Ellie Reeves referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal in June, describing it as unduly lenient and seeking an increase. Digwa is challenging the length of the term as too severe, according to reports. The court will consider both sentence appeals at the same hearing and decide whether the minimum term should rise, fall or remain unchanged. Digwa’s application to challenge his conviction is being handled separately.