Convicted murderer Vickrum Digwa, who killed 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton last December, was referred to the Court of Appeal on Monday under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, opening the door to a possible increase in his sentence.
Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC has asked the Court of Appeal to determine whether the punishment imposed was unduly lenient and, if so, whether it should be increased, stating:
This case horrified me, and I know that feeling is shared by the British public. It is right that difficult questions need to be answered about the way the police handled Henry’s Nowak’s murder, while my role is to review Digwa’s sentence for his crimes.
Under English law, members of the public can request a review of certain Crown Court sentences if they believe the punishment imposed was too lenient.
Separate from the question of Digwa’s sentence, the case has remained highly controversial. Initial attention focused on the fact that, as a Sikh, Digwa benefited from legal exemptions allowing him to carry a ceremonial kirpan in public, although this was not the weapon used in the killing. Public outrage intensified following the release of police bodycam footage showing the fatally wounded Nowak being arrested and handcuffed after Digwa falsely accused him of making racist remarks.
