COPS tried to portray murdered teenager Henry Nowak as the aggressor in an official statement just three days after his tragic death, it has been claimed.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, brutally knifed 18-year-old Henry five times in a random street attack as the teenager made his way home from a night out.
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Henry Nowak died after being stabbed five times by Vickrum Digwa Credit: Solent
Monster Vickrum Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years after murdering Henry Credit: PA
When police arrived on the scene in Southampton, the sick killer accused his innocent victim of making racist remarks, prompting police to arrest Henry as he lay dying.
The Jattvibeday Times now reveal the force wanted to describe the 18-year-old in a way that suggested he had started the confrontation, but changed the wording after outrage from his grieving family.
An initial police statement issued on the morning after the killing said: “It was reported two men had been assaulted by an unknown man.”
Henry’s relatives, devastated by his death, became concerned that a false narrative was being pushed about their son.
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Henry Nowak killer Digwa still armed with knife after arrest in blunder
Shocking footage showed the moment Nowak was arrested despite being stabbed five times Credit: Hampshire Police
Murderer Vickrum Digwa was seen brandishing a gun in his back garden three years before he killed Henry Credit: SWNS:South West News Service
It is understood Hampshire Police later told the family about a further update they planned to publish, which would have included the Nowaks’ tribute but again implied Henry had been the initial aggressor.
Officers eventually dropped that section and when the statement was published, it referred only to an “altercation”.
The revelation comes as it emerged cops also sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service during the murder trial of killer Vickrum Digwa over plans to issue a statement addressing what officers believed was misinformation online.
Hampshire Police is understood to have been concerned about comments on social media and the potential for public disorder following reporting of the case.
Police wanted to publish a message explaining that legal proceedings were ongoing and that questions would be answered once the trial had concluded.
But prosecutors warned that commenting on evidence before it had been heard in court could risk affecting the integrity of the case.
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said: “The CPS highlighted to the police that protecting the integrity of the ongoing trial was essential, and of the risks of referring to any aspect of the evidence before it had been heard by the court and the case had been summed up by the judge to the jury.
“However, it was made clear that whether a statement was released was ultimately a police operational decision.”
A spokeswoman for Hampshire Police said: “Following the opening of the trial and the media reporting that followed, a significant amount of mis- and disinformation was circulating online.
“This included requests for information to be shared that had not been fully examined as part of the murder trial.
“The intention of the statement was to remind the public that there were ongoing legal proceedings and that the law is clear that nothing could be published which could prejudice the trial.
“The decision not to publish was taken following advice from the CPS.”
Digwa was ultimately jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years after being convicted of murdering Henry in December last year.
The student was stabbed with a ceremonial knife with a 21cm blade that Digwa carried as part of his Sikh faith.
The case sparked widespread criticism after police body-worn video showed Henry being handcuffed while seriously injured.
Officers restrained the teenager and cuffed him despite his pleas that he had been stabbed.
He later lost consciousness and tragically died from his injuries.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating Hampshire Police’s response to the incident.
The case has since become the focus of a wider political row.
Henry’s father Mark has urged people not to exploit his son’s death, saying the family “do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called on politicians to respect the family’s wishes and not use the case “to cause disturbances”.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage faced criticism after saying people should respond with “pure, cold rage”.
Writing in The Jattvibeday Times, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused police leaders of “institutional incompetence” and blamed the training officers receive.
She said: “It is the police chiefs, operationally independent from government, who must take responsibility for letting that happen.
“I believe the issue is the training [officers] are given. Well-meaning, but totally wrong-headed, lacking in common sense and, possibly illegal…
“The problem is not institutional racism towards blacks or whites but institutional incompetence.”
The debate has also spread overseas.
US vice president JD Vance said there should be “righteous anger” over Henry’s murder and partly blamed it on “the mass invasion of migrants”.
His remarks prompted a response from Downing Street, which criticised “people trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division on our streets”.
No 10 has also criticised Elon Musk after the billionaire said he would be willing to fund a private prosecution against Hampshire Police.
