Image source, PA Media

The mother of Henry Nowak's killer has been sentenced to three years in prison for removing the blade used to murder the Southampton student from the scene.

Vickrum Digwa is serving a minimum of 21 years behind bars for the stabbing death of Henry, 18, in December last year.

Today Digwa's mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, was sentenced after being found guilty in May for assisting her son, with Judge William Mousley KC telling her a responsible parent would have asked their child to “do the right thing”.

“You took the knife and put it at home with other weapons in your son's bedroom,” he said, adding her actions had "helped to conceal what it had been used for".

The judge described Henry as a “much loved, kind and devoted young man”.

“Your son murdered him,” he told Kaur, who dabbed her eyes with a tissue as she was led from the dock.

After fatally stabbing Henry, who was from Essex, Digwa falsely claimed to police that he had been the victim of a racist attack. Police bodycam footage was later released showing Henry being arrested despite suffering several stab wounds, leading to intense public criticism of the police.

During the hearing, Judge Mousley noted that Kaur had a “hard life” in India nearly 30 years go.

He told the court that Kaur was embedded in the Sikh community.

“Your actions were, mistakenly to protect your son rather than for any personal gain,” the judge said.

He said it was “unlikely” that she would re-offend and may have to make changes to her way of life and living arrangements when she is eventually released from prison.

“However the seriousness of your offending requires you to be punished” and to deter others from doing the same.

An emotional Kaur was clutching a piece of tissue in her hand throughout the hearing and began dabbing her eyes as she was led down from the dock.

Henry’s family were swiftly taken from the room by the staff at the court.

Judge William Mousley KC said that by putting the dagger in their son's bedroom among "a larger collection of ceremonial and other weapons" it would have "helped to conceal what it had been used for".

He added that this was because she wanted "him to avoid being caught".

Duncan Kennedy
BBC South of England Correspondent

The mother of Vickrum Digwa, the man jailed for the murder of Henry Nowak in Southampton last December, has been jailed for three years.

Kiran Kaur had been found guilty in May of assisting an offender, by removing the murder weapon from the scene of the attack last December.

It was a 21cm (8in) knife that she took back to the family home after Vickrum Digwa stabbed Henry. Digwa was jailed for life last month and given a minimum term of 21 years in jail.

Judge William Mousley tells Kaur that "a responsible parent would have challenged their son”.

He says a responsible parent would have asked their child to “do the right thing”.

“You took the knife and put it at home with other weapons in your son's bedroom,” he adds.

Judge William Mousley KC says when Digwa's brother Gurpreet arrived at the scene he filmed Henry as he lay dying.

“Your sons showed a callous disregard for his wellbeing,” he tells Kaur.

Adding that they ignored "his desperation that he had been stabbed”.

He tells the court Gurpreet explained that no weapon had been used, but at the same time Digwa asked Kaur to take the murder weapon away.

The judge tells Kaur she would have been fully aware the kirpan could only be used as a “last resort” in self-defence.

He explains how her son deliberately stabbed Henry in the chest, and describes in detail the damage that the fatal stab wound did to Henry.

He tells the court Henry “would not have survived” no matter how quickly he received emergency care.

Judge William Mousley KC tells Kaur that she may remain seated, before addressing her to describe Henry as a “much loved, kind and devoted young man”.

“Your son murdered him,” he tells Kaur.

He adds that Henry’s family have all described the “devastating and lifelong impact" of his death.

Judge William Mousley KC returns to the packed courtroom in Southampton to deliver his sentence for Kiran Kaur.

Before exiting the courtroom, Judge William Mousley KC made clear that Kaur removed the murder weapon from the scene, but did not make an attempt to "hide" the item.

Prosecuting barrister Nicholas Lobbenberg told the court that the weapon was not found by police until 10 December 2025 - seven days after the attack took place.

Judge William Mousley KC announces that he intends to pass sentence at 14:45 BST, before rising and leaving the courtroom.

Defence barrister Watson says Kaur's "character is not defined by this act, however her life will be" and asks the judge to consider a suspended sentence.

Her crime does "not demand" immediate imprisonment, Watson says.

She had shown "previous good character" and represents an "incredibly low risk of re-offending", he says.

Defence barrister Mark Watson says the "consequences don't stop" after a "tragedy" like this, and Kaur understands the "pain" it has caused.

She was "equally misled" by Digwa, Watson says.

He calls her actions on the night of the murder "a spontaneous act carried out in a matter of moments".

She had not attempted to destroy the weapon and had acted out of an "instinctive desire to protect her child", he adds.

Prosecutor Nicholas Lobbenberg begins by describing Kaur's actions as "criminality of the highest order".

He says: "Her role was crucial in removing the murder weapon from the scene."

The absence of the weapon led to Henry dying "terrified" and "alone", the barrister continues.

At Digwa’s sentencing in June, Judge Mousley said: "You abused the privilege extended to Sikhs to have a knife in a public place for religious reasons, dishonoured your religion and have now put others at risk of repercussions."

Digwa is seeking to appeal against his conviction and sentence, while the Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves, has referred his sentence to the Court of Appeal to be reviewed under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Judge William Mousley KC enters the court.

Kiran Kaur is wearing green, traditional Sikh dress, with a long green headscarf.

She sits in the dock - an enclosed glass-fronted room within the court alongside a translator.

Prosecuting barrister Nicholas Lobbenberg KC addresses the court first, while defence barrister Mark Watson and the rest of the courtroom listen

Curtis Lancaster
at Southampton Crown Court

It’s a full courtroom for the sentencing of Kiran Kaur at Southampton Crown Court, that is due to start shortly.

Members of Henry Nowak's and Digwa's families are here, as well as their friends.

Journalists from national and local media are packed into the court room, as well as barristers, solicitors and legal staff.

Image source, Crown Prosecution Service

The knife that was used to kill Henry, and taken from the scene by Kaur, was a 21cm (8in) blade that Digwa carried in a cross-body sheath over his clothing. He said he carried it in keeping with the traditions of the Nihang warrior sect within Sikhism, of which he is a member.

He said he carried the blade because of his Sikh faith but the religious relevance of the item is dismissed by the Sikh community.

Many Sikhs dispute descriptions of the murder weapon as a"kirpan", saying a kirpan is a small ceremonial blade worn as an article of faith that symbolises a commitment to justice and protecting others.

Image source, Police Handout

Henry Nowak was killed by Vickrum Digwa in December last year.

Digwa was jailed for life, with a minimum of 21 years, for the murder of the 18-year-old Southampton university student after stabbing him multiple times.

In video from the night, Digwa was heard consistently lying to police as Henry lay dying. Digwa claimed he had been racially attacked, so initially officers failed to believe Henry's insistent pleas that he had "been stabbed".

It took officers eight minutes to discover the wound that killed him.

In the aftermath, there was intense public criticism of police actions in the case.