Killer’s Tariff Raised to 25 Years as Court of Appeal Rejects “Ludicrous” Challenge Over Student’s Murder
The minimum prison term for Vickrum Digwa, the killer of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, has been increased from 21 to 25 years after Court of Appeal judges deemed the original sentence “unduly lenient.”
The ruling came after Digwa, 23, launched an appeal seeking to reduce his life tariff—a legal move denounced by the victim’s family as “ludicrous.” Senior judges formally dismissed Digwa’s challenge and upheld a referral by the Attorney General to impose a more severe punishment.
Judicial Ruling: Lawful Carriage Does Not Reduce Unlawful Knife Use
Delivering the ruling, the Lady Chief Justice addressed the circumstances surrounding the weapon used in the fatal attack:
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Starting Point: The appellate panel accepted the trial judge’s initial 15-year baseline, affirming that Digwa did not take the eight-inch kirpan—a curved ceremonial blade worn as an article of faith by Sikhs—to the scene with preexisting criminal intent.
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The Fatal Escalation: However, the court ruled that a “very significant uplift” was required once the weapon was drawn:“The fact that the knife’s initial carriage had been lawful does not reduce the seriousness of its subsequent unlawful use.”
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Aggravating Behavior: Digwa stabbed the Essex teenager five times in Southampton on December 3, filmed him as he lay dying, and falsely claimed on police body-worn cameras that Nowak had initiated the altercation and used racial slurs. Combined with his mother’s subsequent concealment of the weapon, the panel found the offense warranted at least 27 years before being reduced to 25 years for mitigating factors.
Bereaved Family: “We Have Been Given a Life Sentence of Grief”
In a formal statement following the judgment, Henry Nowak’s family called the tariff increase an important step, while emphasizing the permanence of their loss:
“We have been given a life sentence of grief. There is no appeal for us, no reduction in our suffering and no prospect of ever getting our son back.”
Speaking to ITV News, Henry’s mother, Lucy Ross, condemned the killer’s actions alongside the broader legal aftermath:
“Mother to mother – she is no mother. We all protect our children, but we also protect our children from right and wrong. But she never did the right thing. She hid the knife, which had Henry’s blood on it. As soon as she gets out, she could arrange a visiting order to go see [Digwa]. She’s lucky enough that she could go and see her boy. I have to go to Henry’s grave to see Henry.”
Controversy Over Early Release Scheme
The ruling unfolded amid intense public scrutiny over the pending release of Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, who was sentenced to three years in prison in July for assisting an offender after hiding the bloodied murder weapon.
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December Release: Due to time served on remand (221 days) and statutory provisions under the Sentencing Act 2026—which allows certain non-violent, fixed-term offenders to be released on licence after serving one-third of their sentence—Kaur is set to be freed this December, roughly coinciding with the anniversary of the murder.
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Father’s Criticism: Mark Nowak, Henry’s father, called the impending release an “absolute disgrace,” noting:“She’ll be out in December of this year having received a three-year sentence. How on earth can that be right? She’ll be out for Christmas, and I won’t have Christmas with Henry.”
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Calls for Reform: Henry’s stepmother, Katie Nowak, urged officials to re-examine statutory release policies to better account for the rights of victims’ families, stating: “Throughout this whole process, it doesn’t feel like anyone’s on your side.”
The family confirmed they will continue their campaign by supporting an independent review into the broader handling of the case.