Southampton man jailed for life for murder of student with ‘religious’ knife

A man with a “weapon obsession” has been jailed for life for murdering a university student with a 21cm-long knife that he claimed to be carrying for religious reasons. Vickrum Digwa, 23, who stabbed 18-year-old Henry Nowak five times, will serve at least 20 years before being eligible for parole. When police arrived at the murder scene in Southampton , Digwa falsely claimed Nowak had racially abused him and knocked his turban off, causing officers to arrest and handcuff the University of Southampton student before they saw his fatal injuries. Henry Nowak was attacked after walking home from a night out with his football team. Photograph: CPS/Solent News and Photo Agency Hampshire police have apologised for their actions, which received global attention after being criticised by the owner of X, Elon Musk. The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, is investigating the incident. Sentencing Digwa, Judge Mousley KC told him: “You have brought shame on your family, your community and your religion. Your actions have stirred up racial tension, which has made many Sikhs worried about their safety.” Nowak, from Essex , was attacked as he was walking home after a night out with his football team. During the trial, Jeremy Wainwright KC, for Digwa, who is from Southampton, claimed he had carried the knife as part of his religion. …