Why is the Henry Nowak case still being investigated?

Earlier this year, Vickrum Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.

This could have concluded the investigation into the student's tragic death, which occurred in Southampton on 3 December 2025.

Digwa fatally stabbed Nowak, then falsely claimed he had been racially abused and had acted in self-defence.

But on Monday, Nowak's parents welcomed an announcement by the Home Secretary of an independent review into the murder, which will be led by former Justice Secretary Alex Chalk KC.

Here is a summary of the various inquiries underway related to Henry Nowak's death, what each involves and their significance.

Henry Nowak, from Chafford Hundred in Essex, was a first-year accountancy and finance student at the University of Southampton - an experience his family said he had been "fully embracing".

Judge William Mousley KC described his encounter with Digwa as a "chance meeting", and the court heard Nowak was alone, unarmed and had been drinking at a level below the drink-drive limit.

Mousley said Digwa was carrying a knife in a sheath, as well as a second, larger dagger linked to his tradition as a member of the Nihang order of Sikhs.

Police bodycam footage of Nowak being handcuffed as he lay dying led to intense scrutiny of Hampshire Police and sparked wider debates around knife laws, race, policing and public trust.

Digwa's mother, Kiran Kaur, was also convicted for removing the knife her son used and was jailed for three years on 17 July.

"We must get to truth of what happened before, during and after that awful night," Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said on Monday, as she announced she had commissioned an independent inquiry into the killing.

"We must do everything in our power to ensure that no family suffers the same fate," she added.

The review will be carried out in two phases and led by former conservative justice minister Alex Chalk KC.

The first phase will examine what information and contact state institutions had regarding Vickrum Digwa in the five years prior to the attack, and examine how he was "managed".

It will look to determine if there were "missed opportunities" to prevent Nowak's murder.

Chalk told Radio 4's Today programme and BBC Radio Solent that he aimed to find out if people reported concerns about Digwa and if any reports were acted upon.

He said he would consider if what happened was due to "old fashioned incompetence" by police or a "sort of reticence" from institutions to intervene sooner "perhaps based upon a misplaced sense of cultural sensitivity".

He said members of the Sikh community he had spoken to felt Digwa's actions were a "source of shame" and expressed a desire for "transparency".

"If there are broader cultural conclusions to be drawn, I'll not hesitate to draw them," he said.

The first phase will also examine how the Nowak family were treated by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), HM Court and Tribunal's Service (HMCTS) and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).

Chalk said he found the Nowak family's drive to improve the system for all going forward "very moving and inspiring".

The second phase will follow after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has concluded its investigation into the actions of police officers who attended the scene.

Mahmood said it would consider the actions of the IOPC and "if necessary" the police.

Chalk said he would "follow the evidence without fear or favour".

An "initial" report is expected to be submitted to the Home Office in March 2027.

The scope of the independent review, and the public furore surrounding Henry Nowak's death, highlight two wider societal issues.

The first is the challenge of community cohesion in an increasingly diverse nation.

Public opinion in Britain remains somewhat divided on questions of culture, religion and integration.

While surveys suggest growing acceptance of ethnic and religious diversity over recent decades, concerns about immigration and community tension have become more prominent in recent years.

Chalk's promise that he will not shy away from drawing any necessary "cultural conclusions" will be welcomed by many.

The second issue brought into focus is the state of the criminal justice system in England and Wales.

The review will examine how the Nowaks were treated, after they described their experience of it as "deeply disappointing".

They are not alone.

A recent University College London-led report found the justice system in England and Wales was failing to meet people's needs, after years of 'austerity and sustained underfunding'.

Court delays, prison overcrowding and pressure on legal services are widely regarded as the justice system's biggest challenges.

Government reforms are underway to reduce waiting times and ease pressure across the courts and prison estate.

But some people who have struggled to navigate their way through the justice process may wonder why it has taken the death of a teenager to focus attention on problems they believe have long been apparent.

The IOPC is currently investigating two officers who may have breached professional standards for potential gross misconduct.

The watchdog is also looking into whether race, religion or prejudice had an impact on police actions and decisions, and the part police control room staff played in events.

The IOPC previously said "provisional decisions regarding disciplinary matters" would be shared with the police and the Nowak family and their views would be sought.

This week it said it expected its investigation to conclude early next year and it supported the recently announced independent review.

A spokesperson said: "Victims and their families are at the heart of our work and for years we have said the accountability system is far too slow and complex.

"Fundamental reform is needed to make it fairer and quicker for everyone involved and we are actively engaged with the Home Office's end-to-end review of the system."

In June, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones asked His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to conduct an urgent inspection over the murder.

Jones requested the inspectorate examine the culture and performance of the Hampshire force control room and the training provided to frontline officers, including their duty to provide medical assistance.

The inspection formally began in August but a deadline has not been publicised.

Speaking after the Home Office review was launched, Jones said the circumstances around the murder "rightly deserve further scrutiny".

She said it was "also right that relevant organisations which held information about Vickrum Digwa are fully examined".

In September, Digwa was given permission to challenge the length of his sentence at the Court of Appeal on 5 November.

The court will also decide on a referral by the Attorney General's office, which argued the sentence was too lenient.

Digwa has also applied to appeal against his conviction for murder, which will be decided separately.

An inquest into Henry Nowak's death has been opened and adjourned.

At a short hearing in June Hampshire coroner Jason Pegg said the state had a "duty to carry out a public investigation in which Henry's family can fully participate", which they had not been able to do during the trial.

There will be a jury and, because of the involvement of the state, Henry's right to life under the Human Rights Act will be examined during the proceedings.

The full inquest is expected to be heard in September 2027.