Teenager Dies in Police Custody After Being Stabbed

in Southampton A shocking incident in the UK has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about police procedures. Eighteen-year-old Henry Nowak, a student, died after being stabbed in the street in Southampton, a city located in southern England.

On December 2025, Nowak was knifed in a violent attack and fell to the ground. As police bodycam footage shows, he can be heard saying 'I've been stabbed' and 'I can't breathe'. Yet, in a move that has left many appalled, police officers handcuffed Nowak as he lay dying on the ground. The killer, identified as 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, had falsely told police that the attack was sparked by a racist incident.

Digwa, a Sikh man, claimed that Nowak had assaulted him in a racist attack. However, Judge William Mousley, who presided over the case, rejected this claim, stating that Nowak's previous character contradicted the alleged racist remarks.

After the sentencing hearing, Nowak's father, Mark Nowak, made a heart-wrenching statement. He said that the case wasn't about racism or religion, but about the treatment of his son by police. Mark Nowak described his son's treatment by police as 'inhumane and degrading'.

It is clear that the incident has sparked widespread outrage in the UK. Many are calling for an immediate investigation into the police's handling of the situation. The case has also drawn parallels with the high-profile murder of George Floyd in the US, where police officers knelt on the victim's neck for several minutes.

I've been stabbed. I can't breathe.

  • This is the last thing Henry Nowak said before he died.

The case has raised questions about the role of racism in the UK. Nigel Farage, a prominent anti-immigration politician, has made some contentious comments about the case. He claimed that the 'fear of being called racist' was greater than dealing with the murder of Henry Nowak.

The UK government has promised to investigate the incident and to take swift action to address any institutional racism within the police force. Interior Minister, Shabana Mahmood, has urged calm and has called for people to condemn those who seek to exploit the situation for their own personal gain.

The London Telegraph reported that protesters had thrown bottles, bricks, and wheelie bins at riot police on a residential street near where the murder took place.

Investigation and Aftermath

An investigation into the police's handling of the situation is underway. The police force has confirmed that one of the officers involved in the arrest has resigned. Three others are being treated as witnesses in the investigation.

The Attorney-General's Office will consider raising Vickrum Digwa's minimum 21-year sentence. The law officers have 28 days from the sentencing to make a decision on any changes. This move would ensure that Digwa faces the toughest possible sentence, given the severity of his crime.

The UK government has assured swift action to address institutional racism within the police force. Interior Minister, Shabana Mahmood, has urged calm and called for people to condemn those who seek to exploit the situation for their own personal gain.

Key Facts

Henry Nowak was an 18-year-old student who died after being stabbed in the street in Southampton, UK. Vickrum Digwa, the killer, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum 21-year sentence. Nowak said 'I can't breathe' as police arrived, but officers handcuffed him before realising he was injured. One of the officers involved in the arrest has resigned, while three others are being treated as witnesses in the investigation. The Attorney-General's Office will consider raising Digwa's minimum sentence.