LONDON, October 26, 2026 â UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered an independent review into the murder of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old University of Southampton student who was handcuffed by police while dying from stab wounds. The investigation will examine whether authorities missed opportunities to prevent his killing and how officers and criminal justice agencies treated his family.
Former Justice Secretary Alex Chalk KC will lead the review, with initial findings expected by March 2027. The announcement follows months of questions about police conduct, earlier warnings concerning the killer and the family’s campaign for accountability.
Henry Nowak Murder: What Happened in Southampton?
Nowak, originally from Essex, was a first-year accounting and finance student at the University of Southampton. He was stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, 23, on December 3, 2025.
After the attack, Digwa falsely portrayed himself as the victim of a racially aggravated assault. Police arriving at the scene initially treated Nowak as a suspect despite his serious injuries.
Body-camera footage showed Nowak telling officers he had been stabbed and could not breathe. Officers arrested and handcuffed him before recognising the severity of his condition. They subsequently removed the handcuffs and attempted resuscitation, but he died.
The incident has raised serious questions about how police assess competing accounts during violent emergencies. Separate UK murder investigations, including the Prestatyn burning-van murder investigation, also demonstrate the importance of establishing evidence before drawing conclusions about a crime.
Two Police Officers Under Investigation
On July 1, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed that two Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary officers were under investigation for potential gross misconduct.
Investigators are examining whether officers failed to recognise Nowak’s urgent medical needs, delayed appropriate first aid or wrongly prioritised arrest and handcuffing.
The watchdog is also investigating emergency call handling and whether assumptions involving race, religion or community tensions affected police decisions.
No final finding of misconduct or discrimination has been announced.
UK Review to Examine Five Years of Warning Signs
According to the Home Office’s October 26 announcement, the investigation will proceed in two phases.
Phase one will examine what police, health services, educational institutions, local authorities and faith organisations knew about Digwa during the five years before the murder.
Investigators will assess reports involving weapons, threatening behaviour and possible missed opportunities to intervene. They will also examine how Nowak’s family was treated by police, prosecutors, courts and prison and probation services.
Phase two will begin after the IOPC completes its investigation and will examine the watchdog’s actions and, where necessary, police conduct.
A separate inspection of Hampshire police procedures is assessing emergency call handling, officer training and impartial decision-making.
Vickrum Digwa Jailed for Life; Mother Also Sentenced
Digwa was sentenced in June 2026 to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for Nowak’s murder.
His mother, Kiran Kaur, received a three-year prison sentence in July for assisting an offender after removing the murder weapon from the scene.
Appeal proceedings involving Digwa and Kaur are scheduled for November 5, according to ITV News. These proceedings are separate from the independent review.
Henry Nowak’s Family Welcomes Independent Investigation
Nowak’s family welcomed the government’s decision after months of campaigning for answers. They said their experience of the criminal justice system had been deeply disappointing and expressed hope that the review would deliver accountability and meaningful change.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously met the family at Downing Street and acknowledged serious questions surrounding the police response.
The case also highlights the role of independent investigations and coroners in examining deaths, as seen in the separate Brighton Beach sisters’ inquest, where a coroner established the circumstances of three deaths.
Next Developments in Henry Nowak Murder Case
Alex Chalk is expected to deliver the first review report by March 2027. The IOPC investigation and a separate inquest remain important parts of the accountability process.
The central questions are whether authorities could have acted earlier, why Nowak’s medical emergency was not immediately recognised and whether police procedures need reform.
For his family, the government’s announcement marks progress, but the search for answers about Henry’s final moments and the decisions preceding his death continues.
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