A college freshman was handcuffed by police as he lay dying, all because his killer claimed the boy was the one at fault.

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When an 18-year-old student went out to celebrate with his new football teammates, he never imagined it would be his last night alive. His death has sparked a national debate over knife laws, self-defense, and why the police treated the victim like a criminal in his final moments.

WHAT HAPPENED

Henry Nowak, a finance student at the University of Southampton, was walking home alone on December 3, 2025. He crossed paths with 23-year-old Vickrum Singh Digwa, who was carrying a large 21-centimeter ceremonial sword called a "Shastar."

Phone video played in court shows a brief argument. Digwa allegedly stabbed Henry four times, including a deep chest wound that punctured his lung. Henry tried to climb a fence to escape but collapsed while crying out for help.

When police arrived, Digwa claimed Henry had racially abused and attacked him. Based on this story, officers handcuffed the bleeding teenager before realizing he was the victim. Henry lost consciousness and died at the scene shortly after.

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WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS

21 centimeters was the length of the blade used in the attack.

• 4 stab wounds were found on Henry’s body, including two in the back of his leg.
• 8 centimeters was the depth of the fatal wound that cut through Henry's lung.
• 100 slides of evidence were shown by the defense to argue it was self-defense.
• 1 video recovered from a phone captures the moments just before the stabbing.

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THE BIGGER QUESTION

This case is about more than a single fight; it’s about how we treat people in their most desperate moments. Why did the police believe the man with the knife over the boy who was bleeding to death?

We should also be asking where the line is drawn for religious weapons. Digwa was carrying a blade much larger than the standard religious "kirpan." Does the law do enough to protect the public while still respecting faith?

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THE OTHER SIDE

Vickrum Digwa claims he acted in self-defense. His lawyers say Henry was drunk and using racial slurs, which made Digwa fear for his life in the "heat of the moment." Digwa’s mother is also on trial, accused of helping her son hide the bloody knife after the attack.

The prosecution argues this wasn't self-defense because Digwa chased Henry as he tried to run away. While Digwa claims he was attacked, the forensic evidence of Henry being stabbed in the back of the leg makes the self-defense claim look much weaker.

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WHAT HAPPENS NOW

The trial is expected to last 10 days at Southampton Crown Court. Experts on the Sikh faith will speak about the rules for carrying ceremonial blades. Henry’s family continues to fight for "Henry’s Law" to toughen rules on carrying any kind of knife in public.

For the public, the initial handcuffing of Henry has led to calls for an investigation into police bias. People want to know if "two-tier policing" played a role in how a dying victim was treated at the scene.

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WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW

Why did the officers decide to use handcuffs on a person with life-threatening injuries?

• Was there any other footage from street cameras that shows the very start of the fight?
• Will the court decide that the "Shastar" blade counts as a protected religious item or a prohibited weapon?

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SOURCE NOTE: Based on reporting from Southampton Crown Court, the Daily Mail, and Hampshire Police. All charges are allegations — Vickrum Singh Digwa and Kiran Kaur are presumed innocent until proven guilty.