Henry Nowak's family claim police 'hoped murderer would plead guilty so sickening arrest footage could be covered up and never become public'

It was a video that outraged the nation. Police officers handcuffing 18-year-old student Henry Nowak as he lay dying, while his Sikh attacker, Vickrum Digwa, who had falsely accused him of racial abuse, stood watching. 

But it has emerged that the shocking video of Henry's wrongful arrest in Southampton on December 3 last year was not shown to his family until the first day of his murderer's trial - on May 14 this year. 

Now, Henry's family have said they believe police hoped their son's murderer would plead guilty so that the bodycam footage of their son's wrongful arrest - which prompted a fierce public outcry and political backlash - would never be made public. 

Henry's stepmother Katie, said the family now fears they may have been manipulated 'in our darkest hours', as they continue their fight for answers. 

In the heartbreaking police body-worn camera footage of Henry's wrongful arrest, the teenager can be heard repeatedly saying: 'I've been stabbed' and 'Call an ambulance', to which an officer replies: 'Don't think you have, mate.' 

Digwa, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years in June – and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation. On Thursday, his term was increased to a minimum of 25 years in prison. 

But the family have now spoken out about why they think police did not show them the footage from the night of Henry's murder until it was shown in the subsequent murder trial at Southampton Crown Court, five months later. 

Speaking in ITV documentary Dear Henry: Our Fight For Justice, which aired on Thursday night, the family said they feared 'some decisions were made to try and protect police and their reputation, rather than try and help us as a family'. 

Henry Nowak's father Mark and stepmother Katie told ITV News UK editor Paul Brand in Dear Henry: Our Fight For Justice that they fear police were trying to cover up the bodycam footage of their son's wrongful arrest

Henry Nowak (pictured) was stabbed in Southampton last December then handcuffed as he lay dying

Weeks before the trial, they had received a letter from the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) saying that there was 'no evidence of serious wrongdoing by officers' as the body 'continued to investigate the police response' to Henry's murder.

The letter, sent to the family on April 10, read: 'After careful consideration of the evidence, no officers will be subject to criminal or conduct investigation. 

'This was because no concerns were identified in relation to officers' actions or decisions that were so serious as to justify the beginnings of disciplinary proceedings.' 

When the family then watched the horrific footage of Henry being handcuffed by officers as he lay bleeding on the floor and pleading for help, they described it as 'just horror'. 

Katie Nowak said: 'We sat in a tiny little side room in Southampton Crown Court, and we were played that video. 

'In the last year, our world has changed twice - the first time was the night that we were told that Henry had died, and the second time was when we watched that video.'

She added: 'We had no reasons to doubt this letter from the IOPC, so when we finally got to see that video in court, we were so shocked. 

'It makes you question and re-examine every conversation you've ever had, it makes you consider whether you were told the truth. Once we'd seen that video, nothing made sense anymore.' 

Henry Nowak's sister, Olivia, and his mother, Lucy Ross, spoke about the moment police told them that Henry had died 

Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to at least 21 years in prison for the murder. His minimum sentence was on Thursday increased to 25

When asked why they thought police waited until the trial to give the family the opportunity to see the video they knew had existed all along, Mrs Nowak said: 'We've always felt that there was a slight hope that Vickrum may have pleaded guilty and if he'd have pleaded guilty, the truth may never have come out.'

Henry Nowak's father, Mark, nodded and said: 'The video would never have been shown - if there'd been no trial there would have been no opportunity to see that video.' 

Mark Nowak added that the most infuriating thing for the family was 'the lack of truth and integrity throughout'. 

He said: 'As the information the family and I were being fed started to evolve and change, I could see something fundamentally went wrong on that night.' 

In the documentary, the family also said that from the beginning, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary had suggested to them that Henry had been the instigator of violence that night. 

When police officers arrived at their homes in the early hours of the morning to inform them of Henry's death, his mother, Lucy Ross, said one of the first questions they asked was what her son's political views were, as well as their own. 

Ms Ross said: 'I did think at the time, that's a really strange question. You've just been told your son's been murdered and then they asked that.'

Henry's father and his stepmother added that 'quite early on, something didn't feel right to us', explaining: 'It was completely at odds with the character that Henry was [...] Henry was not racist.' 

Police officers pinned fatally injured Henry to the ground as he gasped 'I've been stabbed'

The family also said that police allegedly first told them that when officers had arrived on the scene, they had noticed Henry was in a serious state and had 'immediately administered first aid'. 

Yet the subsequent footage of the police's response they saw showed this was not the case and they later admitted that he had actually been handcuffed and arrested. 

It was, in fact, almost eight minutes since they arrived at the scene that police noticed Henry had been stabbed in the chest. It was after 20 minutes that they arrested the correct suspect. 

'The story was evolving every time we had an interaction,' Mr Nowak explained. 'What started off as, "When the police arrived, we administered first aid", moved through a stage where: "When the police arrived, they detained everyone"...

'To: "We actually only detained Henry", to then: "We handcuffed Henry", and then: "We placed Henry under arrest".

'That evolution of what actually happened that night really shocked us, and we felt we were being hoodwinked. We felt we were being not told the truth.'

The family have also said that in the hours after being told Henry was killed, they found a post on the Southampton Police Facebook page suggesting that he had started the violence, stating that 'two individuals were attacked by an unknown man'.

Mrs Nowak said: 'We then knew that unknown man to be Henry – so, even reading that was so shocking.'

Digwa used this eight-inch blade to stab Henry – delivering the fatal blow to his chest 

The following day, while Mark Nowak was driving home from identifying his son's body in Southampton, he said he was called by police to approve a press release that would name his son for the first time.

But in this draft release, his son was again depicted as the 'aggressor'.

'That was a statement that essentially identified the victim,' Mr Nowak said. 'So, tarnishing the victim's name at that stage was shocking for me to hear... as I was on the way back from identifying my son's body.'

The family think police initially believed Digwa's lies that he was the victim of a racist attack, before realising their mistake. 

Digwa used his eight-inch blade to stab Henry five times – delivering the fatal blow to his chest.

Police initially dismissed Henry's pleas that he had been stabbed and could not breathe, before finally discovering the fatal stab wound to his chest while performing CPR, eight minutes after arriving on scene. 

A transcript revealed that Henry's final words before he died were, 'Please, brother. I can't breathe.' 

His mother, Ms Ross, said: 'Why was Henry so dismissed and treated so badly? It's bad enough losing a child – to know that then he was treated in his last moments like that. My poor little boy needed help and he didn't get it.'

Ms Ross and her daughter Olivia were told of the contents of the footage – but they have never seen it.

'I will never watch that video,' said Ms Ross. 'I can't watch videos of happy times of Henry. I can't, I can't hear his voice. The last thing I want to do is hear Henry's voice begging for help. I won't do it.' 

Mrs Nowak also spoke about when the family received a visit from police officers after her stepson was fatally stabbed.

She said: 'I jumped out of bed and I saw the police car on our driveway. One of the police officers was holding his hat in his hand, and I just knew straight away that something horrific had happened.'

She remembered Mr Nowak falling to his knees upon hearing the news of the student's death, adding: 'He let out a cry that I'll never forget.'

'It was just shock,' Mr Nowak said. 'I just remember saying "it's Henry" and breaking down in tears. It's just unbelievable pain.'

Ms Ross recalled officers knocking on the door in the early hours and Olivia shouting at her: 'Mum, there's police at the door.'

'They said to me, "Do you have a son called Henry?…",' Ms Ross said. '"There's been an altercation. And unfortunately, your son has passed away." No words, no words can explain that feeling.' 

Henry's father called on the Government to amend its knife-carrying laws and define a kirpan, supposed to be a small knife which Sikhs are required to carry at all times.

He met with an expert in Sikhism and its history and culture in the documentary, who claimed that the knife Henry had been killed with was not, in his opinion, a kirpan, which are typically small, blunt blades.

Mr Nowak called on a change in law to define a kirpan in terms of size and visibility, adding that 'religious freedoms need to be balanced with public safety'.  

The IOPC investigation into potential failures in the police response to Henry's stabbing is expected to wrap up early next year.

Following a review of the case and Digwa's murder conviction, the IOPC announced in July that two officers were under investigation for potential gross misconduct.

Last week, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced an independent review of the case, including the IOPC's involvement.

A full inquest into Henry's death will take place next year. 

HIOWC chief constable Alexis Boon told ITV: 'Henry's murder was a devastating tragedy, and our thoughts remain with his family and all those who loved him. I am incredibly sorry that in his final moments, when he needed us most, we failed him.

'I recognise that, for Henry's family, this has been about more than the circumstances of one night. They have rightly raised serious concerns about the police response and their treatment throughout the investigation and since. No family should ever find themselves in this position.

'The events surrounding Henry's death remain subject to extensive independent scrutiny. We are co-operating fully with the review by HMICFRS [His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services], the IOPC's investigations and the coronial inquest. But I will not wait for their findings to make changes.

'Henry deserved better. His family deserved better. I am determined that we learn every lesson from this tragedy and ensure families who place their trust in us are treated with honesty, compassion and professionalism.'

IOPC director of engagement Derrick Campbell said: 'Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Henry's family and friends for their tragic loss.

'The IOPC is committed to establishing the full circumstances of this case, including whether any of the officers involved should face disciplinary proceedings, and providing Henry's family with answers to the questions they rightly have about how the police treated Henry in the way they did on that terrible night, and why.

'Our investigators continue to have regular contact with Henry's family. Since Vickrum Digwa was convicted of his murder, they have met with members of Henry's family on a number of occasions to provide them with updates and to explore their concerns, about police actions and our investigation, in more detail. 

'We are working hard to conclude our independent investigation as quickly as possible while ensuring we have robustly explored all lines of enquiry.'

A CPS spokesman said: 'Our thoughts remain with Henry Nowak's family and friends for the unimaginable pain they have suffered.

'Our priority in this case was always securing justice. That means we must carefully balance our duty to protect the integrity of live court proceedings with our engagement with families.

'Unfortunately, we were unable to share sensitive evidence with Henry's family until the case was trial-ready; to avoid any risk of prejudicing proceedings. We discussed this with them and explained that decision.'

A Home Office spokesman said: 'The murder of Henry Nowak was a tragedy. His life was cruelly cut short in a horrific and senseless act of violence. Our thoughts are with Henry's family who have experienced unimaginable loss.

'We are continuing discussions with Sikh stakeholders and the police about the law on carrying knives in public and the religious reasons defence.

'The Home Secretary has also announced a rapid independent review, led by Alex Chalk KC, into the circumstances surrounding Henry's murder, including whether opportunities were missed and whether lessons can be learned.

'This Government is committed to halving knife crime in a decade, and it is down 11 per cent in the last two years. But while there are still tragedies like this, there is more to do.'

'Dear Henry: Our Fight For Justice' aired on Thursday, November 5, and is available to watch on ITV, ITVX, and the ITV News YouTube channel