English police are facing scrutiny after officers handcuffed 18-year-old university student Henry Nowak as he bled to death from a fatal stabbing. The officers reportedly believed the attacker's false claim that he had been the victim of a racist assault.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was convicted Thursday at Southampton Crown Court for murdering Nowak, a finance student at the University of Southampton, during a confrontation on Dec. 3, 2025. Prosecutors said Digwa used a 21-centimeter Sikh kirpan-style ceremonial knife.
Officers arriving on scene treated Nowak as the suspect after Digwa alleged he had been racially abused and attacked. They handcuffed Nowak before realizing the severity of his injuries. He later collapsed and died at the scene.
Hampshire Constabulary apologized and referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The case has sparked debate over whether police prioritized allegations of racism over basic investigative and medical procedures.