Kiran Kaur Sentenced to Three Years for Concealing Murder Weapon After Son’s Fatal Attack

Justice Served for Henry Nowak’s Family

Mother of Henry Nowak killer jailed – Kiran Kaur, a 53-year-old woman residing on St Denys Road in Southampton, has received a three-year prison term for her role in helping her son evade justice following a deadly assault. The Southampton Crown Court jury convicted her in May of assisting an offender, a verdict that came after extensive deliberation regarding her actions on the night of December 3.

The tragic incident occurred when Vickrum Digwa, Kaur’s son, fatally stabbed 18-year-old Henry Nowak as the university student made his way home following an evening out. The attack took place in Southampton, where Nowak was a first-year undergraduate. Digwa wielded a 21-centimetre blade—approximately eight inches in length—during the confrontation that ultimately claimed the young man’s life.

The Concealment of Evidence

What distinguished Kaur’s case was her deliberate decision to remove the murder weapon from the scene and hide it at her family home. According to court proceedings, Digwa handed the knife to his mother shortly after the incident. She subsequently placed it among a collection of more than twenty other weapons stored in her son’s bedroom, effectively concealing its significance.

Judge William Mousley KC, KC delivered a pointed assessment of Kaur’s conduct during sentencing. He emphasized that a responsible parent would have confronted their child and encouraged them to act honorably. Instead, Kaur chose to protect her son by ensuring the blade would not immediately come to light.

“A responsible parent would have challenged their son and asked their child to do the right thing,” Judge Mousley stated. “You took the knife and put it at home with other weapons in your son’s bedroom.”

The judge further explained that by placing the blade within a larger assortment of ceremonial and other implements, Kaur helped obscure its purpose. Her intention, the court found, was to prevent Digwa from being apprehended for the murder.

Sentencing Remarks and Prosecution Response

During her sentencing, the judge acknowledged that Kaur was unlikely to commit further offences and recognized that her motivation stemmed from a misguided desire to shield her son rather than any selfish benefit. Nevertheless, he stressed that the gravity of her actions warranted punishment and served as a warning to others who might consider similar conduct.

“However, the seriousness of your offending, requires you to be punished and others who might find themselves in a similar situation to be deterred from doing as you did,” Judge Mousley concluded.

Prosecutor Nicholas Lobbenberg characterized Kaur’s behaviour as representing “criminality of the highest order,” describing her contribution as “crucial” in the removal of critical evidence. He noted that the blade remained undiscovered for seven days following the assault, significantly delaying the investigation.

Defence barrister Mark Watson presented an alternative perspective, framing his client’s actions as a “spontaneous act carried out in a matter of moments” driven by an “instinctive desire to protect her child.” Kelly Newman of the Crown Prosecution Service subsequently remarked that individuals who assist murderers in evading accountability must understand they too face consequences.

Police Controversy and Ongoing Investigations

The circumstances surrounding Henry Nowak’s death attracted considerable public attention, particularly regarding police conduct at the scene. Digwa initially misled officers by claiming he had been racially abused and acted in self-defence. He alleged that his turban had been dislodged and that he sustained injuries during the altercation.

Bodycam footage, subsequently released by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary with the family’s consent, captured officers arriving and engaging with Digwa and bystanders. The video shows Nowak lying on the ground, audibly stating “I’ve been stabbed” and “I can’t breathe” on multiple occasions. Despite his condition, officers turned him onto his side and secured his hands behind his back before informing him he was under arrest for assault.

Two police officers are currently undergoing investigation for potential gross misconduct related to their handling of the situation. Hampshire Police has formally apologised to the Nowak family for the manner in which their son was treated by officers.

Family Response and Future Campaign

Following the sentencing, Nowak’s family issued a statement expressing continued disappointment. They affirmed their commitment to pursuing justice and ensuring that all investigations thoroughly examine every aspect of what transpired in December.

“We will never give up in our campaign for justice for Henry. Our focus is on making sure the ongoing investigations leave no stone unturned as we fight for the full truth about what happened last December,” the family declared.

Henry Nowak, originally from Chafford Hundred in Essex, had been walking back to his accommodation after consuming alcohol at a level below the legal drink-drive limit. The prosecution established that he suffered five stab wounds, including two to the back of his legs, one to his face, and a fatal injury to his chest.

Digwa maintained that he carried the blade as part of his Sikh faith, although the Sikh Federation clarified that the weapon used was not a traditional religious knife known as a kirpan. A police van transcript obtained by the BBC recorded Digwa confessing to his brother, Gurpreet, that he had stabbed the teenager several times.

Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment in June with a minimum term of twenty-one years. His mother’s conviction adds another dimension to the legal proceedings surrounding this tragic case, as the family continues to advocate for systemic changes they believe their son deserved.