The jail sentence handed to Vickrum Digwa, who was found guilty of the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, has been sent to the Court of Appeal for review. The referral was made by the Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme, following concerns that the initial minimum term of 21 years may not be appropriate.
Digwa, aged 23, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years at Southampton Crown Court on 1 June, following the fatal stabbing of Mr Nowak. The incident, which occurred on 3 December, saw Mr Nowak repeatedly attacked with a 21cm blade. Digwa had claimed he carried the knife due to his Sikh faith.
The case gained significant public attention and sparked protests after police body-worn video footage was released. This footage showed Mr Nowak, from Chafford Hundred in Essex, repeatedly telling officers he had been stabbed and couldn't breathe, despite initially being arrested and handcuffed by police after Digwa falsely claimed he had been attacked and racially abused. The police response is currently under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Solicitor General Ellie Reeves stated her hope that the referral would contribute to bringing justice for Mr Nowak's family, acknowledging the widespread horror the case has caused. She emphasised the need for difficult questions to be answered regarding the police's handling of the incident, while her specific role was to review Digwa's sentence. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also met with the Nowak family at Downing Street, describing the case as "awful and shocking" and expressing his profound humility after the meeting.
The Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme allows the public to ask for a sentence to be reviewed if they believe it is too low. The Attorney General's Office then decides whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal. If the Court of Appeal agrees that a sentence is unduly lenient, it has the power to increase it.