Henry Nowak's killer is allowed to appeal his sentence after he was ordered to serve 21 years in jail for stabbing 18-year-old student to death
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By CLAIRE DUFFIN, SENIOR REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
The Sikh man who stabbed Henry Nowak to death then lied to police that he was the victim of a racist attack has been given permission to appeal the length of his sentence.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in June for the murder of student Mr Nowak, 18, in Southampton in December.
He killed Mr Nowak, who was walking home from a night out, using a blade he said he carried as part of his Sikh faith.
Attorney General Ellie Reeves referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal as 'unduly lenient' in June.
It emerged the following month that Digwa is also seeking to challenge his conviction and sentence.
On Tuesday, court officials confirmed that a judge had given Digwa the green light to appeal against his sentence, which will be heard alongside the Attorney General's bid to increase his jail term on November 5.
Vickrum Digwa was given a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years in prison for the murder
Henry Nowak was a finance student at the University of Southampton and was described as 'kind and talented' by his family
Digwa's bid to overturn his conviction is being dealt with separately, with a decision yet to be made on whether to allow that challenge to go ahead.
Mr Nowak's murder sparked protests and violence after police body-worn video was released showing officers handcuffing the teenager, from Chafford Hundred, Essex, moments before he collapsed and became unconscious.
Mr Nowak had told police on the scene he had been stabbed, only for one to scoff, 'Don't think you have mate'.
Digwa had lied to police after the stabbing, claiming that he was the victim of a racist attack. Rather than calling an ambulance or police, Digwa filmed Henry as he sat on the floor dying.
Last month, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services said it had begun an inspection of Hampshire Police, following a request by Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones.
The commissioner said the inspection would cover the 'end-to-end process' from call-handling in the control room, dispatch and initial attendance at incidents of serious violence.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct previously launched an investigation in July into two officers for potential gross misconduct over their interactions with Mr Nowak on the night he was stabbed.
The watchdog is also examining whether race or religion played a part in the officers' decision-making.
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