Henry Nowak’s family ‘suffered the most unimaginable horror’ – Alex Chalk

Henry Nowak’s family “suffered the most unimaginable horror” which has been “exacerbated by their experience of the criminal justice system”, former lord chancellor Alex Chalk said as it was announced he will lead an independent review into the student’s murder.

The revew will look at “any missed opportunities to intervene”, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told the Commons on Monday.

The 18-year-old died after being fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton on December 3 2025.

Mr Nowak was handcuffed as he lay dying after Digwa, a Sikh, falsely accused him of racial abuse.

In police body-worn camera footage, Mr Nowak can be heard repeatedly saying “I’ve been stabbed”, to which an officer replies: “Don’t think you have, mate.”

Mr Nowak’s family are set to speak about their fight for answers in an ITV News programme to be aired on November 5, with his father Mark heard saying in a preview: “I’m determined to find out what happened.”

Put to him that Mr Nowak’s family wanted him to do the review, Mr Chalk told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “This poor family suffered the most unimaginable horror, but that has been exacerbated by their experience of the criminal justice system, and also this sense that something might have been done in the past to prevent it happening.

“And if I can play my part to give them some answers on that, then it’s a task I’m happy to carry out.”

He added: “We want to look at two things: one, the family’s experience of the criminal justice system. How were they engaged with by the CPS, by the HMCTS, that’s the court and tribunal service, HMPPS, the prisons and probation service? These are all organisations that I’ve, as it were, grown up with professionally, but also the police.

Vickrum Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years (Hampshire Police/PA)

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“And then the second part is to look in the five years before the horrific murder. Were there occasions when reports were made, but perhaps because of a reluctance based upon a misplaced sense of cultural sensitivity, because it might have involved a religious weapon, did people hold back, or did organisations hold back?

“I approach this with a totally open mind. Maybe they did, maybe they didn’t. But that’s what we need answers on.”

Put to him that it has been reported that a Sikh Gurdwara, attended by Digwa, did report him to the police, and asked if it is known what the report said, he said: “Well, that’s what I’m going to be looking into.

“So, I will be writing to the Gurdwaras, but also to the police … to the health service and so on. So, there is a set number of agencies that I will consult on these matters, and the Gurdwara is one of them. So, first of all, what was reported, and then second, how was that report acted on or not acted on?”

Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years on June 1 this year for Mr Nowak’s murder.

Kiran Kaur, Digwa’s mother, was also jailed for three years for assisting an offender after she removed the knife used by her son.