White Man Stabbed to Death in UK; Police Response to 'I Can't Breathe' Plea Sparks Racial Controversy

Last December, in southern England, 18-year-old white university student Henry Nowak was stabbed to death by Sikh man Vickrum Digwa. Yesterday, the court sentenced Digwa to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for murder. According to court and police documents, on the night of the incident on December 3rd, Digwa claimed to responding officers that Nowak had launched a racist attack on him and knocked off his turban, which is a major insult to Sikhs. Police bodycam footage shows Nowak, who was lying on the ground with severe injuries, repeatedly telling officers that he had been stabbed and saying, 'I can't breathe.' However, officers paid little attention, continued the arrest, and handcuffed Nowak. Meanwhile, Digwa and his family, who arrived at the scene, reiterated to officers that Nowak had not been stabbed and that his claims were 'exaggerated.' Despite Nowak's repeated pleas and his becoming unresponsive about two minutes later, officers continued the arrest process and read him his legal rights. Judge William Mousley stated during sentencing on the 1st that Nowak's condition clearly deteriorated about a minute after being handcuffed, at which point officers began CPR. However, Nowak had suffered a deep chest wound reaching 8cm under the skin, causing 1,200ml of internal bleeding. Pathologists later determined that even if an ambulance had arrived immediately, there were no medical means to save his life. Digwa, 22 at the time, identified as a devout Sikh and carried a traditional dagger. Under UK law, carrying such blades for religious reasons is legal, provided the blade is under 9 inches and sheathed, but this does not permit their use in attacks. Judge Mousley noted that Digwa not only recorded Nowak's struggle on his phone but also repeatedly insisted he hadn't been stabbed. The judge emphasized that Digwa's actions have exacerbated racial tensions in the UK. Nowak's father expressed his agony over his son dying without dignity and is pushing for stricter knife laws. Southampton police have requested an independent investigation into the officers' conduct. The victim's plea of 'I can't breathe' has drawn comparisons to the 2020 George Floyd case in the US, sparking widespread debate in the UK.