Man who said he carried knife as part of Sikh faith guilty of murdering Southampton student
Summary
A man named Vickrum Digwa was found guilty of killing Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student in Southampton, with a long knife. Digwa said he carried the knife for religious reasons linked to his Sikh faith, but the court rejected this defense and described the murder as not related to religion or racism.Key Facts
- Vickrum Digwa, 23, stabbed and killed Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old university student.
- Digwa claimed he carried the knife for Sikh religious reasons and acted in self-defense.
- The court found Digwa guilty of murder, calling his claim about racism “a wicked lie.”
- Digwa also carried a small kirpan, a ceremonial Sikh dagger, but the larger knife used was not justified by religion.
- Police handcuffed Nowak before realizing he had fatal injuries; the police apologized and an independent investigation is ongoing.
- Hampshire police said the internal bleeding caused by the stabbing was so severe that nothing the officers did could have saved Nowak.
- Prosecutors described Digwa as someone who liked weapons and had an arsenal at home.
- UK law allows carrying a kirpan for religious reasons, but a large knife requires a good reason such as self-defense, which Digwa failed to prove.
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