Kiran Kaur, the mother of Henry Nowak’s murderer, was jailed for three years after hiding the knife her son used to kill the 18-year-old student. The sentencing came at Southampton Crown Court, where Judge William Mousley KC condemned her for concealing the weapon and hampering the police investigation.
Mother of Vickrum Digwa convicted of assisting an offender
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was previously sentenced to life in prison for murdering Henry Nowak during a chance encounter in December. Kaur took the dagger from the scene and placed it among ceremonial weapons in her son’s bedroom, the court heard. Judge Mousley stated that a responsible parent would have challenged Digwa and urged him to surrender.
Police bodycam footage showed Nowak, a finance student at the University of Southampton, handcuffed and pleading for help as he lay dying. Officers are under investigation for potential misconduct after one replied, “I don’t think you have, mate,” when Nowak said he had been stabbed.
Family reactions and ongoing weapons charges
Kaur’s family defended her actions, with her mother, Bimla Kaur, 75, stating she had “done the right thing” by protecting her son. Digwa’s father, Moga Singh, and brother Gurpreet are charged with weapons offenses, including possession of flick knives, machetes, and swords. Their trial is set for September next year.
Judge Mousley described Nowak as a “much-loved, kind, hard-working” student and noted that Digwa’s actions had stirred racial tensions in Southampton. The Crown Prosecution Service warned that those aiding offenders will face accountability.
