New Delhi: A murder case that has triggered outrage across Britain has taken a darker turn after police bodycam footage showed an 18-year-old student repeatedly telling officers “I can’t breathe” and “I’ve been stabbed” as he lay mortally wounded on a Southampton street.
Henry Nowak, a first-year University of Southampton student from Essex, was handcuffed and arrested on suspicion of assault moments before he lost consciousness following a fatal stabbing in December last year. The footage, released by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary with his family’s consent after the conclusion of criminal proceedings, has intensified scrutiny of the police response and sparked demands for accountability at the highest levels of government.
A 23-year-old Sikh man, Vickrum Digwa, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for murdering Nowak on Monday. Prosecutors said Digwa, described in court as having a “weapons obsession”, falsely portrayed himself as the victim when officers arrived at the scene, claiming he had been racially abused and he was attacked by the teenager. The misleading emergency 999 call was made by Digwa’s brother.
Bodycam footage shows police officers speaking to Digwa while Nowak lies injured on the ground nearby.
When asked his name, the teenager faintly responds, “Henry”. Digwa then tells the cops that his turban had been knocked off and that he had been assaulted.
Nowak is repeatedly heard saying “I’ve been stabbed” in the video as he struggles to maintain balance.
An officer asks where he has been stabbed before replying: “Don’t think you have, mate.”
Throughout the encounter, Nowak repeatedly says: “I can’t breathe.”
The footage then shows officers handcuffing him behind his back and later telling him he is under arrest for assault. He becomes unresponsive soon after.
🇬🇧: Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old University of Southampton student, was stabbed to death on 3 December 2025 in Southampton by 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa.
Bodycam footage released by Hampshire Police on 2 June 2026 shows Nowak struggling to breathe and repeatedly telling officers… pic.twitter.com/3UNgbeDR4M
— World In Last 24hr (@world24x7hr) June 2, 2026
‘No one witnessed the attack’
According to Hampshire Police, officers began CPR within minutes of first making contact with him. However, the images and videos have fuelled public anger over why a critically injured teenager was treated as a suspect rather than a victim.
The attack occurred on 3 December 2025 after Nowak had spent the evening with friends. He was walking back alone to his rented home when he encountered Digwa, who was carrying a large blade in a sheath attached to his belt.
No one directly witnessed the attack, but neighbours heard Nowak saying he had been stabbed. Prosecutors said he suffered five stab wounds, including injuries to his legs, face and a fatal wound to the chest. After being stabbed, he tried to climb over a fence, leaving a trail of blood behind him.
The murder weapon was a 21cm blade. Digwa claimed he carried it as part of his Sikh faith, but both the Sikh Federation and Sikh Press Association later distanced the community from the killing, saying the weapon used was not a traditional kirpan and condemning the attack.
During sentencing on Monday, Judge William Mousley KC rejected Digwa’s claims of racism and self-defence.
“You were sober but were carrying a large Sikh dagger,” the judge said, BBC reported.
He told Digwa he had murdered a “much-loved” young man and had brought “shame” on both his family and his religion.
Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, was also convicted of assisting him after attempting to hide the murder weapon and is due to be sentenced later this year. Digwa’s father and brother have separately appeared in court on weapons-related charges and are on bail.
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Mounting anger
Outside court, Henry’s father Mark Nowak delivered an emotional statement condemning both the killing and the police response.
“Henry told officers that he could not breathe nine times. He told them that he had been stabbed four times. Henry was pulled across the gravel, his hands forced behind his back and he was placed in handcuffs,” he said, the BBC reported.
Describing the treatment of his son as “inhumane and degrading”, he added: “He did not die with the care he deserved. He lost consciousness before anyone believed him.”
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has apologised for the incident and referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is investigating the on-duty officers’ actions, who are being treated as witnesses.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the footage as “an awful, shocking case” and said it was right for the police watchdog to investigate the response.
Later, he said watching the footage had made him “feel sick” and that there were “searching questions for the police that are going to have to be answered”.
The release of the footage also triggered protests in Southampton, where hundreds gathered outside a police station demanding answers.