The prison sentence handed to Vickrum Digwa, the man convicted of murdering 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, has been referred to the Court of Appeal for review under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment at Southampton Crown Court on June 1 and ordered to serve a minimum term of 21 years before becoming eligible for parole.The referral was made by Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP, who said she hoped the move would help bring justice to Nowak’s family.Nowak was fatally stabbed on December 3 after being attacked with a 21cm knife. During the trial, Digwa claimed he carried the blade because of his Sikh faith.The case attracted widespread attention after evidence emerged that Nowak was initially detained and handcuffed by police at the scene before officers realised he had sustained life-threatening injuries.Body-worn camera footage later released by authorities showed the teenager repeatedly telling officers that he had been stabbed and was struggling to breathe. Digwa had allegedly told police that Nowak had attacked and racially abused him. In a statement announcing the referral, Reeves described the case as one that had horrified the public.”No sentence can ever undo the devastation that Henry’s family have suffered, or fill the void left by his loss,” she said, adding that she hoped the appeal process would help secure the justice the family deserves.Public anger over the case intensified following the release of the police footage, leading to protests in Southampton on June 2. Authorities have since charged 23 people in connection with the disorder, while 13 defendants have been jailed.The Court of Appeal will now consider whether Digwa’s sentence should be increased.The Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme allows certain Crown Court sentences in England and Wales to be reviewed if they are considered too low. Under the scheme, the Solicitor General can refer a case to the Court of Appeal, which then decides whether the sentence was unduly lenient and, if necessary, increase it
