Independent review announced into murder of student Henry Nowak
Independent inquiry to examine events surrounding Henry Nowak’s murder
Constantvpn.com – An independent review will investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing of Southampton student Henry Nowak, including whether earlier intervention could have prevented his death and how his family were treated by the justice system.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the review in the House of Commons, describing the need for a full examination of the events before, during and after the night the 18-year-old was killed. The inquiry will be chaired by former Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk KC and is expected to deliver its report within five months.
“We must get to truth of what happened before, during and after that awful night and we must do everything in our power to ensure that no family suffers the same fate,” Mahmood told MPs.
Nowak, originally from Chafford Hundred in Essex, was in his first year studying accountancy and finance at the University of Southampton when he was stabbed to death in Southampton in December 2025.
Life sentence for Vickrum Digwa
Vickrum Digwa was convicted of murdering Nowak and received a life sentence on 1 June, with a minimum prison term of 21 years. Digwa had claimed falsely that he had been subjected to racial abuse and that his actions were taken in self-defence.
The case prompted major public concern not only because of the killing itself, but also because of footage showing the police response. Body-worn camera video released by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, with the family’s consent, showed Nowak being handcuffed while on the ground. He could be heard saying repeatedly that he had been stabbed and struggling to breathe as officers spoke with Digwa and other people nearby.
The footage placed the conduct of attending officers under intense scrutiny and broadened public discussion about policing, race, knife crime, public confidence and the way emergencies involving young people are handled. Disorder broke out in Southampton in the days after the video was made public.
On the night of the murder, it was Digwa’s brother who called 999. He alleged during that call that Vickrum had been attacked in a racially motivated incident.
Review will be conducted in two stages
The Home Office has set out a two-phase process for the independent review. Its first stage will consider the roles of police, health services, local authorities, education providers and faith organisations. It will examine whether any concerns had previously been raised about weapon possession or violent behaviour, and whether agencies had chances to take action that might have stopped the murder.
This part of the work is intended to look beyond the immediate scene of the killing. It will consider the information held by different organisations, how warning signs may have been understood, and whether communication or safeguarding arrangements left potential risks unaddressed.
The review will also explore the support offered to Nowak’s relatives and their experience within the criminal justice system. Mahmood said the inquiry would consider whether the family received sufficient assistance as they sought answers after Henry’s death.
Its second stage will begin once the Independent Office for Police Conduct has finished its separate investigation into officers who attended the scene. That later phase will assess the IOPC’s actions and may also revisit police conduct if that proves necessary.
The police watchdog began its inquiry after the bodycam material showed Nowak restrained and left on the floor despite telling officers that he was seriously injured. A judge at Digwa’s sentencing found that the injuries were unsurvivable, even if treatment had been provided immediately. That conclusion remains significant in assessing the medical outcome, while the ongoing scrutiny concerns the decisions, conduct and treatment of Nowak at the scene.
Family welcomes move for accountability
Nowak’s family called the announcement a “significant moment in our fight for justice”. They said they hoped the review, alongside existing investigations and the inquest, would establish the complete account of what happened and lead to meaningful accountability and change.
“We hope this review, alongside the ongoing investigations and inquest, will finally uncover the full truth and deliver the accountability and meaningful change we have fought so hard for,” they said.
“Our experience of the criminal justice system has been deeply disappointing, and we are determined that no other family should have to endure what we have.”
After Digwa was sentenced, Henry’s father, Mark Nowak, had called for an investigation that was “full, fearless and transparent” into the police response. He also appealed for his son’s death not to be exploited to deepen division, hatred or tension.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also supported the decision to establish the review, saying that those who failed Henry and his relatives must face proper accountability.
Why the inquiry matters
The review has the potential to address several connected questions: whether warning signs were identified before the attack, whether public bodies acted appropriately on relevant information, whether frontline emergency responses met the standards expected by the public, and whether bereaved relatives were given the support they needed.
It will not replace the criminal conviction, the IOPC investigation or the inquest. Instead, it is designed to examine the wider system around the case, including decisions and possible missed opportunities that may fall outside the narrow question of criminal responsibility.
For Nowak’s family, the central aim is a clear account of the failures they believe surrounded his death. For the organisations involved, the findings may determine whether procedures, communication and support arrangements need to change. The report due in five months will be closely watched in Southampton, in Essex and beyond by those seeking answers about how a first-year university student was killed and what could be done to prevent another family facing a similar loss.
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