Newly released evidence indicates that police officers who arrested Henry Nowak took approximately eight minutes to discover his stab wound. The 18-year-old student, from Chafford Hundred in Essex, was placed in handcuffs shortly before he lost consciousness and subsequently died in December 2025.
Mr Nowak had been stabbed multiple times while walking back to his student accommodation alone after a night out in Southampton. Vickrum Digwa, 23, was later jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for Mr Nowak’s murder, having falsely claimed racial abuse. A three-minute police body-worn video from the incident, previously released, led to public protests in the city.
A more extensive transcript of the body-worn camera footage, obtained by the BBC from the Crown Prosecution Service, details the critical moments. The transcript reveals Mr Nowak repeatedly stating, “I’ve been stabbed,” to which an officer initially replied, “You’ve been stabbed? Whereabouts? Don’t think you have, mate.” Later, an officer suggested, “he’s saying he’s been stabbed so let’s just check him and see.” A female officer called for an ambulance, noting Mr Nowak’s pupils were unresponsive.
Timestamps in the transcript show that between five minutes and 24 seconds and seven minutes and 33 seconds, a female officer requested a torch and scissors to check for a stab wound. After seven minutes and 33 seconds, an officer cut Mr Nowak’s clothing, leading to the discovery. The female officer confirmed, “Yes, he’s got a stab… there’s a mark there,” with another officer adding, “That makes it worse. He’s got a stab… I’m pushing on a f****** stab wound.” Paramedics arrived shortly after this discovery.
Following the case, Robert France, Hampshire’s temporary deputy chief constable, issued an apology on behalf of the officers involved. He stated that the officers had been “lied to” and would not have been aware of Mr Nowak’s injury, which he described as not being obvious. Mr France expressed his sympathies to Mr Nowak’s family and friends, adding, “I am sorry that Henry couldn’t be saved that night. I’m sorry that he was handcuffed and arrested in the moments before he lost consciousness.” The Independent Office for Police Conduct is currently investigating Hampshire police’s response to the incident. A jury inquest into Mr Nowak’s death is scheduled for next year at Winchester coroner’s court, where it will consider whether any “act or omission by a police officer” contributed to his death.