Mother of Henry Nowak killer jailed for removing knife from murder scene

Introduction

The mother of a convicted murderer has been jailed for three years at Southampton Crown Court for assisting an offender. Kiran Kaur, 53, was sentenced after removing the 21-centimetre murder weapon from the scene of the crime and hiding it in her son's bedroom. Her son, Vickrum Digwa, is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of 18-year-old University of Southampton student Henry Nowak.

The sentencing of Kaur is the latest development in a series of legal actions surrounding the death of Nowak. Alongside Kaur's imprisonment, two police officers are under investigation for potential gross misconduct regarding their treatment of the victim at the scene of the crime. Additionally, several members of the Digwa family face pending weapons charges, and Vickrum Digwa's sentence is under review.

This case has drawn attention due to the actions of the responding police officers, who handcuffed the dying victim on the ground based on false claims made by the killer. The ongoing proceedings, including dual appeals and an upcoming inquest next year, continue to raise questions about police protocols and the consequences of weapon concealment.

Background

The incident occurred on 3 December in Southampton, where Henry Nowak was stabbed five times and killed by Vickrum Digwa. Nowak was a first-year university student who had moved to Southampton from Chafford Hundred, Essex, to pursue his studies.

Upon arriving at the scene, police officers encountered Vickrum Digwa, who lied to them about the nature of the confrontation. Digwa claimed that he had acted in self-defence and had been racially abused by Nowak. Acting on these false statements, the police officers handcuffed and arrested the dying Nowak for assault as he lay on the ground.

While handcuffed, Nowak told the responding officers that he had been stabbed and could not breathe. Despite his critical condition, he was treated as a suspect at the scene before succumbing to his injuries. In June, Vickrum Digwa was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 21 years, for the murder of Nowak.

Latest Developments

In May, Kiran Kaur was convicted of assisting an offender. During her trial, prosecutor Nicholas Lobbenberg described her actions as criminality of the highest order. The court heard that Kaur removed the 21-centimetre knife used in the stabbing from the crime scene and hid it among more than 20 other weapons in Vickrum Digwa's bedroom.

Police officers conducting searches located the hidden murder weapon approximately seven days after the killing, on 10 December. Defence barrister Mark Watson represented Kaur during the proceedings. Sentencing her to three years in prison, Judge William Mousley KC highlighted the severity of her attempt to conceal vital evidence from the police.

Concurrently, the investigation into the initial police response is ongoing. Two police officers are being investigated for potential gross misconduct regarding their treatment of Nowak, specifically their decision to handcuff and arrest him while he was dying and telling them he could not breathe. These misconduct investigations may result in disciplinary action against the officers.

The legal proceedings against Vickrum Digwa are also continuing. Digwa is currently appealing both his murder conviction and his life sentence. At the same time, the Attorney General has referred Digwa's sentence to the Court of Appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme, which could lead to an increase in his minimum term.

Furthermore, additional criminal charges are pending against other members of the Digwa family. Vickrum Digwa, his brother Gurpreet Digwa, and their father have all pleaded not guilty to multiple weapons offence charges. Gurpreet Digwa had previously heard Vickrum's confession while the two were inside a police van. These weapons charges will be decided in separate, future court proceedings.

Key Facts

• Victim: Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old first-year University of Southampton student from Chafford Hundred, Essex, who died after being stabbed five times on 3 December.

• Convict: Vickrum Digwa, who was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years in June and is currently appealing his conviction and sentence.

• Mother Sentenced: Kiran Kaur, 53, jailed for three years at Southampton Crown Court for removing the 21cm murder weapon and hiding it.

• Weapon Details: The 21cm knife was hidden among more than 20 other weapons in Digwa's bedroom and was recovered by police seven days later on approximately 10 December.

• Misconduct Probe: Two police officers are under investigation for potential gross misconduct for handcuffing and arresting the dying Nowak at the scene.

• Family Charges: Vickrum Digwa, his brother Gurpreet Digwa, and their father face outstanding weapons charges, to which they have pleaded not guilty.

• Future Inquest: A full inquest into the death of Henry Nowak is scheduled to take place next year in Winchester.

Conclusion

The events surrounding the death of Henry Nowak have resulted in extensive legal and administrative proceedings. The case highlights the severe legal consequences for individuals who attempt to assist offenders by hiding evidence, as demonstrated by the three-year prison sentence handed to Kiran Kaur.

The resolution of the outstanding legal matters will determine the final outcomes for those involved. The Court of Appeal will decide whether Vickrum Digwa's life sentence is unduly lenient or if his appeal against his conviction and sentence has merit. Simultaneously, future court proceedings will address the pending weapons charges against Digwa, his brother Gurpreet, and his father.

The outcome of the gross misconduct investigations could lead to disciplinary action against the two police officers who arrested Nowak. For the victim's family, the legal process continues ahead of the full inquest scheduled for next year in Winchester. In the meantime, Nowak's family is continuing their campaign to pressure the government for changes to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.