The justice system often feels entirely backwards. Just ask the family of Henry Nowak. Vickrum Digwa—the man convicted of murdering 18-year-old Henry in Southampton—has just been granted permission to appeal his prison sentence.
Let that sink in.
Digwa, who was handed a minimum term of 21 years behind bars back in June, is arguing that his sentence is too harsh. Simultaneously, the Attorney General is heading to the Court of Appeal to argue the exact opposite: that the sentence is far too lenient. Both sides will collide in court on November 5.
If you followed the original trial, you know how brutal this case is. Digwa didn't call an ambulance when Henry was dying on a Southampton street. He pulled out his phone and filmed the teenager instead. To make matters worse, he lied to the police right after the stabbing, falsely claiming he was the victim of a racist attack. That lie had real consequences. Police body-worn footage showed officers handcuffing a dying Henry as he struggled to breathe, believing the killer's fabricated narrative.
Now, the Court of Appeal faces a massive decision. They can increase the sentence, decrease it, or leave it right where it is.
The Dual Appeal Battle
You rarely see an appeal structured quite like this. Digwa's legal team is pushing on two fronts. First, he's seeking permission to challenge his actual conviction. Second, he's fighting the 21-year minimum term on the grounds of stringency.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Ellie Reeves referred the original sentence to the higher court as unduly lenient. When November 5 arrives, the judges won't just look at whether Digwa deserves more time. They'll have to listen to his claim that 21 years is too much.
Public frustration is palpable. When the original sentence was handed down at Southampton Crown Court, Henry's father, Mark Nowak, spoke out about the unbearable disparity in how his dying son was treated compared to his killer. Protests and intense public outcry followed the release of the arrest footage. People want accountability. They want clear answers about why a teenager gasping for air was cuffed instead of rushed to a hospital.
What Happens Next in the Court of Appeal
The legal chess match is set. Digwa's attempt to overturn his conviction is being handled as a separate track, but the sentence appeal brings everything to a head.
Courts rarely change minimum terms lightly. Yet, having both the killer demanding a reduction and the state demanding an extension puts immense pressure on the appellate judges. They have to weigh the severity of the crime, the callous nature of filming a dying kid instead of calling for help, and the fallout of the false racial abuse claims against established sentencing guidelines.
November 5 is circled on calendars across the country. Justice is on trial once again.
