The family of murdered student Henry Nowak has stated that he did not die with dignity, following the release of police bodycam footage showing officers handcuffing him as he lay dying. Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life in prison for a minimum of 21 years for fatally stabbing 18-year-old Nowak in Southampton in December with a 21cm (8in) blade. Digwa had initially lied to police, claiming he was the victim of a racist attack, leading officers to arrest and handcuff Nowak while he was severely injured.

The Nowak family has described the student's treatment by police as "inhumane and degrading." Hampshire police have since issued an apology for their actions. The incident has prompted calls for a national emergency response to knife crime, with the family emphasizing they will "carry their grief every single day for the rest of their lives."

Speaking outside court, Henry Nowak's father, Mark, expressed that his son "did not die with dignity." Henry's older sister, Olivia Nowak, read a statement in court describing her brother as her "best friend" and detailing the profound impact of his death on her life. She conveyed the unimaginable pain of being informed of her brother's passing, stating, "A lot of myself died when he died."

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones has written to the prime minister requesting an urgent review into the carrying of bladed articles for religious and ceremonial purposes. Jones acknowledged that while it was a stressful situation, mistakes were made that need to be investigated. She stated her role is to ensure the police are performing their duties correctly, not to defend them.

Judge William Mousley KC, presiding over the case at Southampton Crown Court, was convinced that Nowak had not uttered any racist remarks to Digwa. Before sentencing Digwa, the judge highlighted that the killer's actions had exacerbated racial tensions in Southampton and across the country, causing distress and worry among the Sikh community regarding their safety.

The bodycam footage, released by Hampshire police with the family's consent, depicts officers arriving at the scene and interacting with Digwa and other individuals. The court heard that Digwa claimed to carry the knife as part of his Sikh faith, a claim that was not substantiated as a motive for the attack by the judge.

This incident underscores broader concerns about knife crime and the handling of emergency situations by law enforcement. The family's plea for knife crime to be treated as a national emergency reflects a growing public anxiety over violent incidents involving bladed weapons.

The Home Office has been approached for comment on the matter. The investigation into the police's actions and the subsequent apology from Hampshire police are ongoing, with the family seeking accountability and changes to prevent similar tragedies.