The key facts

  • Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of student Henry Nowak and on Thursday is challenging the severity of the sentence
  • Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of student Henry Nowak and is challenging the severity of the sentence on Thursday
  • The attorney general, on the contrary, referred the case as unduly lenient — the court will consider both applications
  • Kiran Kaur, sentenced in July to three years for assisting an offender, will be released in December, having served about a year, under the early release scheme
  • Kiran Kaur, sentenced in July to three years for assisting an offender, will be released in December after serving about a year under the early release scheme

The appeal and the attorney general's counter-application

The family of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak from Chafford Hundred (Essex) has called the possibility of an appeal for his killer 'ludicrous' and the early release of the killer's mother a 'disgrace'. This is reported by BBC News citing the relatives' interview with ITV News editor Paul Brand. Vickrum Digwa, 23, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years; on Thursday he is challenging the sentence as too harsh. At the same time, the court will consider an application by the attorney general, who, on the contrary, believes the sentence was unduly lenient. Digwa struck Henry five times with an eight-inch blade in Southampton on 3 December and lied to police, claiming that the student had started the conflict and racially abused him.

The killer's mother's release in December

Digwa's mother Kiran Kaur was sentenced in July to three years for assisting an offender: she hid the blade with which Henry was killed. As ITV News previously established, Kaur will be released in December of this year, having served only about a year, under a government early release scheme — the date falls roughly on the anniversary of the killing, which the family calls 'especially cruel'. Henry's mother Lucy Ross said: 'Mother to mother — she is not a mother. We all protect our children, but we also protect them from good and evil. And she never did the right thing. She hid the knife that had Henry's blood on it.' The father, Mark Nowak, called the release 'an absolute disgrace': 'She will walk free in December of this year, having received a three-year sentence. How can that possibly be right? She will be free at Christmas, and I will not spend Christmas with Henry.' According to Lucy Ross, after her release Kaur will be able to arrange a prison visit with her son, while she herself is left with only visiting Henry's grave.

Why the release became possible

The reason for the early release is a new provision: under the Sentencing Act 2026, which came into force on 1 October, most prisoners serving fixed sentences of up to two and a half years are automatically released on licence after serving one third of their term, rather than half. Kaur's offence — assisting an offender — is not on the list of exceptions to the new rules. She is contesting her sentence; she will serve the remainder of her term on licence in the community and can be returned to prison if she breaches its conditions. The Ministry of Justice notes that the 221 days Kaur spent in custody before trial were counted towards her sentence. The Nowak family told ITV News that the government should reconsider the decision to release Kaur and the scheme itself; Henry's stepmother Katie Nowak added that 'victims should be given far more attention — throughout the whole process it feels as if no one is on your side.' The situation is covered in the documentary 'Dear Henry: Our Fight for Justice', which will air on Thursday 5 November on ITV1 and ITVX.

An 18-year-old man standing in front of orange, white and black balloons by a window. He has short dark hair and is smiling and is wearing a blue jacket and a black top underneath.Image source, Police handout
Image caption,

Henry Nowak, from Chafford Hundred in Essex, died in the attack in Southampton on 3 December

Lucy is looking to the side of the camera.Image source, ITV News
Image caption,

Henry's mother, Lucy Ross, spoke to ITV News about Kiran Kaur's early release

Mark, who is wearing a white shirt with a dark blazer, is looking to the side of the camera.Image source, ITV News
Image caption,

Henry's father, Mark Nowak, said it is an 'absolute disgrace' that his killer's mother, who hid the murder weapon, will be released early from jail

Custody photo of Vickrum Digwa, a man with a beard, a grey jumper and a purple turban looking to the camera.Image source, Police handout
Image caption,

Vickrum Digwa was found guilty of murder

Kiran Kaur looking at the camera, with a red checked head scarf on her head.Image source, Hampshire Police
Image caption,

Vickrum Digwa's mother Kiran Kaur was jailed for three years in July for assisting an offender

Kiran Kaur looking at the camera, with a red checked head scarf on on her head.Custody photo of Vickrum Digwa, a man with a beard, a grey jumper and a purple turban looking to the camera.Custody photograph of Vickrum Digwa wearing a turban and grey sweatshirt.Custody photograph of Vickrum Digwa wearing a turban and grey sweatshirt.Kiran Kaur looking at the camera, with a red checked head scarf on her head.