Newly released bodycam footage shows the arrest of Vickrum Digwa, the man accused of murdering Henry Nowak, and it paints a disturbing picture of the events that unfolded that night. Digwa can be seen repeatedly telling police that he was a victim of a “racial attack” and falsely claiming that Henry was “obviously drunk” and “never handcuffed.” The treatment of Henry Nowak, described as a “much-loved, kind, hard-working and ambitious young man,” by Hampshire police has been labeled “unbearable” by his father, Mark Nowak.
As the footage rolls, we see Digwa insisting on these “wicked lies,” trying to twist the narrative in his favor. He even compared his treatment to that of a “bad man” and claimed, “I said ‘yeah I am a bad man’,” while attempting to justify his actions. The Southampton Crown Court heard how Digwa provided a consistent account of events that night, asserting that Henry had knocked his turban off. However, video evidence taken right after the stabbing contradicts his story, showing Digwa’s hair neatly tied up, while the police footage shows it hanging loose.
As the officers work to save Henry’s life, Digwa is heard complaining about the flashing emergency vehicle lights. “Can you turn the flashes off?” he asks, highlighting a bizarre detachment from the gravity of the situation. The officer responding to him insists they can’t, and it’s clear that Digwa is more focused on his discomfort than the life-threatening situation unfolding around him.
It’s worth noting that throughout his arrest, Digwa was “never handcuffed,” a fact he himself confirmed in court. He emphasized that he was treated with “decency,” yet the glaring contradiction between his claims and the evidence raises more questions than answers. The police are under scrutiny for their handling of the situation, and Hampshire police have since apologized to the Nowak family for the way Henry was treated.
The community is still reeling from the violence that took Henry’s life, with protests erupting in response to the police’s actions and the shocking details of the case. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the officers involved, and the attorney general’s office has referred Digwa’s death for an inquiry set to take place in Winchester next year.
As the jury continues to sift through the evidence, one has to ask: how did we get here, and what does this mean for justice in our community?
Kaynak: Orijinal Haber
