The key facts

  • Henry Nowak's family said police camera footage showing the dying young man handcuffed deepened their trauma
  • Killer Vikrum Digva falsely told police about a racist slur; he was sentenced to life with a minimum of 21 years
  • Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood appointed an independent review led by Alex Chalk

Family describes a double trauma

Relatives of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, killed in Southampton on 3 December 2025, said their 'world changed twice': first on the night they were told of their son's death, and then when they saw the police body-worn camera footage. In the video, Henry, lying with five stab wounds after a walk with friends from his football team, repeats 'I've been stabbed', to which an officer replies: 'I don't think so, mate.' The family spoke about this in the ITV documentary 'Dear Henry: Our Fight For Justice', as reported by BBC News. Father Mark, stepmother Katie, mother Lucy and sister Olivia described the night of the tragedy: police came to their home at around one in the morning, and Mark, according to Katie, fell to his knees with a cry she will never be able to forget.

What is known about the case

The killer, 23-year-old Vikrum Digva, falsely told police that Henry had racially abused him, and it was because of this claim that officers handcuffed the dying student. Digva was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years. His mother Kiran Kaur received three years in prison for assisting him: she disposed of the knife her son had used. It took police another 24 hours to identify the body and notify the family. After the footage was released, the case caused a wide political resonance.

Independent review

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced an independent review of the circumstances of the killing, to be led by former Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk. According to him, the review will examine 'missed opportunities to intervene' — in particular, serious questions have been raised about whether agencies responded to reports of Digva's violent and unpredictable behaviour — as well as how public bodies treated the Nowak family during a period of unbearable grief. The review will follow the facts 'without fear or favour', Chalk stressed. The documentary will air on Thursday, 5 November, at 21:00 GMT on ITV, ITVX and the ITV News YouTube channel.

A young man smiling wearing a white shirt and a blue tie. He is sitting in front of a green bush. He has brown hair.Image source, Handout
Image caption,

Henry Nowak, 18, was fatally stabbed in Southampton in December 2025

Mark Nowak, a man with short, near, grey-brown hair, is pictured sitting during an interview. He is in a dark blue suit jacket over a white colalred shirt and is wearing glasses.Image source, ITV News
Image caption,

Mark Nowak fell to his knees after learning that his son Henry had been murdered

Olivia Nowak and Lucy Ross are pictured sitting during an interview. Olivia, who has long brown hair, is talking. She is wearing a black top. Lucy, who is dressed in white and has long blonde hair, looks over at her.Image source, ITV News
Image caption,

Olivia Nowak and Lucy Ross were told of Henry's death when police knocked on their door in the early hours

A young man smiling wearing a white shirt and a blue tie. He is sitting in front of a green bush. He has brown hair.A young man smiling wearing a white shirt and a blue tie. He is sitting in front of a green bush. He has brown hair.A young man smiling wearing a white shirt and a blue tie. He is sitting in front of a green bush. He has brown hair.Kiran Kaur looking at the camera, with a red checked head scarf on her head.A young man with short dark hair is smiling to camera. Balloons with 18 on them can be seen in the background