A Sikh man has been found guilty of murdering an 18-year-old university student, after he was stabbed to death as he returned home after a night out in Southampton, UK.Vikram Dhigoa, 23, was convicted at Southampton Crown Court of murdering Henry Nowak on December 3 using a 21cm-long ceremonial blade, the BBC reported.Degoa denied murder during the trial, claiming he acted in self-defence after an altercation escalated on Belmont Road shortly before 11.30pm.The court heard the confrontation began after the two bumped into each other on the pavement while Nowak was returning to his accommodation after a night out.The teen appeared intoxicated and then became aggressive during the exchange, DeGoa told the jury. He alleged that Nowak used a racial slur, punched him, and took off his turban during the fight.The defendant also claimed that he feared Nowak would use the kirpan against him after he grabbed the blade he was wearing in a sheath around his neck.Jurors rejected the defense and found Degoa guilty of murder. He was also convicted of carrying a knife in public.The trial heard that Nowak suffered multiple stab wounds and tried to escape after the attack by climbing over a fence before it collapsed.Degoa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, was also found guilty of assisting an offender after prosecutors said she removed the weapon from the scene.
Emotional scenes unfolded in court during the pronouncement of the sentences. Members of the public gallery could be heard crying, while Nowak’s parents embraced as they left the courtroom.Judge William Moseley described the case as “extremely difficult” and thanked jurors for their “essential service”.
