"Your sons showed a callous disregard."
In 2025, the nation was shocked when 18-year-old finance student, Henry Nowak, was fatally stabbed.
Henry was attacked while returning home in Southampton after a night out with his football team.
His murderer was Vickrum Digwa, who stabbed Henry with a 21 cm (8in) knife.
Digwa received a sentence of life imprisonment for Henry Nowak’s murder in June 2026.
In May 2026, Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, was convicted of assisting an offender, by removing the knife from the scene and taking it home.
Beginning sentencing, Judge William Mousely KC told Kaur that Henry was a “much-loved, kind and devoted young man”.
He explained that Kaur would have been aware that the kirpan could only be used as a “last-resort” in self-defence.
The judge underlined that regardless of how efficient his medical care was after the incident, Henry would not have survived the stabbing.
On the night of Henry’s murder, the police had handcuffed the student in Southampton after Digwa alleged that Henry had knocked off his turban and was racially abusive towards him.
However, police later discovered fatal wounds on Henry.
Judge William Mousely KC also called out Digwa’s brother, Gurpreet, who filmed Henry as he lay dying.
The judge told Kaur: “Your sons showed a callous disregard for his wellbeing.”
Mousely added that “a responsible parent would have challenged their son”, and would have asked their child to “do the right thing”.
He continued: “You took the knife and put it at home with other weapons in your son’s bedroom.”
Kaur was then told: “Your actions were, mistakenly to protect your son, rather than for any personal gain.”
The judge noted that Kaur was highlighted within the Sikh community and that it was “unlikely” that she would re-offend. He said:
“However, the seriousness of your offending requires you to be punished, and to deter others from doing the same.”
A teary-eyed Kaur, who held a tissue in her hands, was ultimately sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.
When Digwa’s false allegations of racial abuse resulted in Henry Nowak’s arrest despite his stab wounds, the police faced public criticism.
Henry’s killing also sparked debates over the knife laws and kirpan exemptions in the UK.
Digwa’s father, Moga Singh, and brother, Gurpreet Digwa, were charged with possessing an offensive weapon in a private place.
In June 2026, they were both released on unconditional bail.
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