Southampton, United Kingdom. British police faced a backlash on Tuesday over the case of an 18-year-old student who was handcuffed as he lay dying from stab wounds after his killer falsely alleged a racist attack. Henry Nowak died after a knife attack in Southampton in December last year.
Verdict and sentence
His murderer, Vickrum Digwa, a 23-year-old Sikh man, was sentenced to life in prison on Monday after lying to police that Nowak had assaulted him.
Bodycam footage
In police bodycam footage, Nowak is seen lying on the street saying, “I’ve been stabbed” and “I can’t breathe,” while an officer responds, “I don’t think you have mate.”
Political reaction
Nigel Farage, whose anti-immigration Reform party leads opinion polls, said the case was an example of the rights of ethnic minorities trumping those of white British people.
“The fear of being called racist was greater than dealing with Henry Nowak’s murder,” he said in a statement. “We should respond to this with pure cold rage.”
Court comments and public response
Judge William Mousley acknowledged in court on Monday that the case had stirred racial tension across Britain. A protest is expected in Southampton on Tuesday evening, and others have been advertised online for this week.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, Cabinet Office minister, told BBC Radio that the bodycam footage was “harrowing,” adding: “The conduct of the police when you look at it at the scene is shocking”.
Police account
Digwa stabbed Nowak with a knife he said he was permitted to carry because of exemptions for Sikhs to have ceremonial daggers. When police arrived, Digwa said his turban had been knocked off and he had an injury to his eye.
