Court of Appeal increases Henry Nowak killer’s minimum jail term from 21 to 25 years

The killer of 18-year-old university student Henry Nowak has had his minimum prison term increased from 21 to 25 years after the Court of Appeal ruled that his original sentence was unduly lenient

Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment after fatally stabbing Nowak in Southampton on December 3, 2025. The case attracted widespread public attention, particularly after disturbing footage emerged showing the final moments of the teenager’s life and the response of police officers who attended the scene.

In a significant ruling on Thursday, November 5, three senior judges increased Digwa’s minimum term by four years, agreeing with Attorney General Ellie Reeves that the original punishment did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the crime.
The decision came on the same day that Digwa’s own attempt to challenge his sentence was rejected.

The ruling represents an important development for Henry’s family, who have endured months of grief and continued to seek answers about the circumstances surrounding his death.

It also brings renewed attention to a case that raised serious questions about the murder itself, the conduct of the killer after the attack and the initial police response.