Family of murdered student Henry Nowak say police misled them

The family of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student who was stabbed in Southampton in December 2025, say police gave them false information about what happened to him in his final minutes. The Guardian reported the family's account on 2 November 2026.

Henry was stabbed while walking home from a night out. Vickrum Digwa murdered him by stabbing him, and Digwa was sentenced to life in prison. Digwa had also falsely accused Henry of racial abuse to police.

Police body-worn camera footage recorded Henry saying "I've been stabbed." An officer replied, "Don't think you have, mate." Officers handcuffed Henry while he was bleeding to death, according to the Guardian's reporting. BBC News reported that officers handcuffed him on the ground as he died from his injuries, and that police took eight minutes to find the fatal stab wound.

Henry's family say they were told police had wrongly described Henry as the aggressor. They say they were also told officers had immediately given Henry first aid. Henry's father, Mark Nowak, said the police account changed over time, moving from a claim that first aid had been given to a statement that Henry had been detained, handcuffed and placed under arrest. His stepmother, Katie Nowak, said she feels the family was failed multiple times and may have been manipulated.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight chief constable Alexis Boon said police failed Henry in his final moments, when he needed them most. The force apologised for its actions in the case less than two months after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the body that investigates complaints against the police, told the family in April that no Hampshire officers would face conduct or criminal investigation because no concerns had been identified. The IOPC is now investigating the circumstances of the case, and Reuters reported in July that the watchdog was probing two officers over their handling of it. Later that month, the investigation was widened to include whether race or religion influenced officers' decision to handcuff Henry, according to Courthouse News.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has launched a review to examine whether opportunities were missed to prevent Henry's murder.