Police have released bodycam footage showing officers handcuffing 18-year-old Henry Nowak as he lay dying from a fatal stabbing. The distressing footage, captured in December, has been released after the killer, Vickrum Digwa, was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Digwa, 23, was jailed on Monday with a minimum sentence of 21 years for the murder of Nowak. The victim was walking home alone after a night out with friends in Southampton on December 3rd when he was attacked. Digwa used a 21cm blade, which he claimed he carried as part of his Sikh faith, to carry out the killing.

During the incident, Digwa falsely claimed to officers that Nowak had racially abused him and that he acted in self-defense. He also stated that his turban had been knocked off and that he had sustained injuries. However, a judge dismissed these racism claims.

Speaking outside the court, Henry Nowak's father, Mark Nowak, expressed his anguish over the stark contrast in treatment between his dying son and his killer. He stated that the situation was "unbearable" and that Henry should not have died on the streets in police custody.

Mark Nowak described the treatment of his son as "inhumane and degrading," highlighting that Digwa, the convicted killer, was "afforded decency" and was "never handcuffed at all." He added that his son "did not die with dignity" nor with "the care he deserved," losing consciousness before his condition was fully believed.

Police stated that they liaised with the Nowak family before sharing the bodycam footage, which was also played in court during the proceedings. The BBC chose to remove sound from parts of the video due to its distressing nature.

The father's comments underscore a growing debate surrounding police conduct during critical incidents, particularly concerning the treatment of victims at the scene. The case brings into sharp focus the emotional toll on families and the public's expectations of how individuals, regardless of their circumstances, should be treated by law enforcement.

This incident and the subsequent sentencing of Vickrum Digwa add to concerns about knife crime in the UK. The use of a large blade in the attack and the victim's young age highlight the ongoing challenges authorities face in combating violent offenses.