The mother of Henry Nowak's killer has been sentenced to three years in prison for her role in removing the murder weapon from the crime scene. Kiran Kaur, 53, was found guilty of assisting an offender after she took the 21cm (8-inch) blade used by her son, Vickrum Digwa, to kill the 18-year-old student.

Henry Nowak was walking home from a night out in Southampton on December 3, 2025, when he was fatally stabbed by Digwa. Digwa, who was subsequently jailed for life with a minimum of 21 years in June, used the knife to inflict the fatal wounds on the student.

At her sentencing at Southampton Crown Court, Judge William Mousley KC told Kaur that a responsible parent would have encouraged their child to do the right thing. He stated that by taking the knife and placing it among a larger collection of weapons in her son's bedroom, she intended to conceal its use and help her son avoid capture.

The prosecution described Kaur's actions as "criminality of the highest order," emphasizing her crucial role in the removal of the weapon. The knife was not discovered by police until seven days after the attack. However, the defense argued that Kaur's actions were a "spontaneous act" driven by an "instinctive desire to protect her child."

Kelly Newman of the Crown Prosecution Service issued a statement after the sentencing, asserting that those who aid murderers in evading justice will be held accountable. This case highlights the legal consequences faced by individuals who interfere with the investigation of serious crimes.

Separately, the circumstances surrounding Nowak's death have drawn scrutiny due to his treatment by police. Digwa had falsely claimed to officers that he had been racially abused by Nowak and acted in self-defense. Bodycam footage released by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary showed officers handcuffing Nowak as he lay dying, after he had stated he was stabbed and could not breathe. Two police officers are currently under investigation for potential gross misconduct.

In a statement read outside court, Henry Nowak's father, Mark Nowak, drew a stark comparison between the "inhumane and degrading treatment" his son received from police and the apparent decency officers showed his murderer. Hampshire police have since apologized to the Nowak family for the actions of their officers.

Nowak, originally from Chafford Hundred in Essex, was a first-year student at the University of Southampton. His death and the subsequent legal proceedings involving his killer and the killer's mother, along with the police conduct investigation, have sparked significant public attention and protests.