The man who stabbed Henry Nowak to death had threatened a worshipper at his local Sikh temple, launched a campaign of “intimidation, interrogation and bullying” against fellow congregation members and been banned from another gurdwara over his behaviour — all in the months before the murder, it has emerged.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, who is serving a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years for the killing of the 18-year-old Southampton University student, was confronted by a community elder at the Gurdwara Guru Tegh Bahadar Sahib in Southampton in May last year after he grabbed a worshipper from behind and demanded they go outside to talk. The man, who spoke to The Times anonymously, said Digwa had not liked the look of him — possibly because his beard was trimmed or because he did not present the appearance of a baptised Sikh. “He launched a campaign of intimidation, interrogation and bullying over matters such as whether he liked the way people had tied their turban,” the man said, adding that other worshippers also felt threatened by Digwa’s behaviour.
When the incident was raised with Digwa’s parents, they reportedly dismissed the concerns. “Our kids can do nothing wrong,” his parents are said to have told those who raised the matter. Seven months later, Digwa stabbed Henry Nowak six times with a large ceremonial dagger as the student walked home from a night out, then lied to responding officers that Nowak had racially abused and physically attacked him — a false claim that resulted in the dying teenager being handcuffed and read his rights as he lay on the ground telling officers he could not breathe.
Prior to attending Gurdwara Guru Tegh Bahadar, Digwa had attended a different temple in Southampton — the Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar — but was banned from that place of worship in 2023 after concerns about his conduct were raised there too.
Further footage has also emerged showing Digwa brandishing what appears to be an air pistol in his back garden in October 2022, three years before the murder. A neighbour who filmed the clip told The Times they had heard loud gunshots and looked over to find Digwa and others shooting at a wooden board. “We filed a report to the police, but they told us they couldn’t do anything as there had been no reports from other residents,” the neighbour said.
The emerging picture of Digwa’s behaviour before the murder adds weight to the portrait painted during his trial. Prosecutor Nicholas Lobbenberg KC told the court Digwa was “skilled with weapons, trained with weapons, sleeps with weapons, searches for weapons on his phone.” Digwa and his family are Nihang Sikhs — a martial sect that prizes skill in the use of swords, knives and other weapons, though only ever for defensive purposes. His brother Gurpreet, 27, and father Mogha Singh, 52, have been charged with weapons offences over an arsenal allegedly discovered at the family home after the murder. His mother Kiran Kaur, 53, is due to be sentenced on 17 July for assisting an offender after removing and attempting to conceal the murder weapon.
Hampshire Police have apologised for their handling of Henry’s final moments. Deputy Chief Constable Robert France said: “I am really sorry that Henry was arrested and handcuffed just before he lost consciousness.” He acknowledged officers had been lied to during the 999 call and at the scene, and said that within three minutes of arriving they had recognised the seriousness of Henry’s condition and begun first aid. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is conducting an ongoing investigation into the officers’ conduct, to which the force said it was fully cooperating.
