Police Response in Henry Nowak Killing Faces IOPC Probe as 18-Year-Old Was Handcuffed Dying
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 6
Police Response in Henry Nowak Killing Faces IOPC Probe as 18-Year-Old Was Handcuffed Dying
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 6
Summary
Bodycam footage released after Vickrum Digwa's life sentence shows 18-year-old Henry Nowak handcuffed behind his back as he said he had been stabbed and could not breathe, intensifying scrutiny of Hampshire police.
Seven minutes after a 999 call falsely claimed a racially motivated attack on Digwa, officers arrived, spoke first to him and others, then arrested Nowak before he became unresponsive; the judge later said his wounds were unsurvivable.
The force has referred itself to the IOPC, HMICFRS has been asked to review the case, and Hampshire's chief constable said he was distressed by the footage; three officers are no longer on front-line duties.
Digwa, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum 21 years after the court rejected his self-defence and racial-abuse claims; his mother will be sentenced on July 17 for trying to hide the weapon.
The case has widened into a national argument over policing, race, knife laws and online misinformation, with protests in Southampton injuring 11 officers and political leaders split over how to respond.