Henry Nowak's family calls for clearer knife legislation

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 6 Nov, 11:20 · Archive

The family of murdered student Henry Nowak have called for changes to knife laws. The 18-year-old was fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton on December 3 last year. Digwa was originally jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years, but this was increased to 25 years on Thursday after the Court of Appeal ruled the sentence 'unduly lenient.'

Judge William Mousley KC told Digwa's sentencing hearing in June that the killer had a small knife hidden from view called a kirpan, which is a strict requirement for Sikhs to have at all times and can be carried in public for religious reasons. Digwa also had a 'large dagger in a sheath' which was 21cm long, thanks to being part of an order of Sikhs called the Nihang, who have a tradition of having a second knife.

Mark Nowak said: 'I fully understand the need to carry a kirpan, but surely that should be defined in law in terms of size and type and whether it should be visible and so on and so forth. And therefore anything else should be made illegal.' He emphasised that the legislation 'shouldn't infringe on religious freedoms' but argued that 'current ambiguity is probably being dealt with on the streets of Britain right now, with police officers not knowing when to act and when not to act.'

An ITV Tonight documentary revealed the family felt 'manipulated' by police on the night of Henry's death. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she had not 'taken any options off the table' following calls for greater clarity on the legal definition of the kirpan.

How it is being reported

• Henry Nowak's family calls for clearer knife laws after student's murderThe family of murdered student Henry Nowak have called for changes to knife laws.Romsey Advertiser · 6 Nov, 10:57
• Henry Nowak's family calls for clearer knife laws after student's murderThe family of murdered student Henry Nowak have called for changes to knife laws.Southern Daily Echo · 6 Nov, 08:30
• Henry Nowak's family felt ‘manipulated’ by police, ITV broadcast revealsAn ITV broadcast has revealed Henry Nowak's family felt they were "manipulated" and "failed" by police, as his father pushes for improved knife legislation.Southern Daily Echo · 5 Nov, 22:09

In this story: Henry Nowak · Mark Nowak · Vickrum Digwa · Katie Nowak · Shabana Mahmood · Southampton · ITV

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