Henry Nowak (left) and Vikram Singh Dhigua (right)
The conviction of British-born Sikh Vikram Singh Dhigoa for the murder of 18-year-old University of Southampton student Henry Nowak has sparked street protests over the legal right of Sikhs to wear the skullcap in public.About 40 members of the Southampton Patriots protest group gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station on Thursday, demanding accountability for the police response to the fatal stabbing in December 2025. Officers monitored the demonstration, which included music and was supervised by a police drone.The issue has also gained attention among right-wing activists and political groups.
Nick Marcel Tinconi, UKIP leader and chief operating officer of Turning Point UK, has joined calls for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police to release body camera footage from the incident, as calls for accountability over the police response continue to grow.
Police apologize after the victim was handcuffed
The controversy stems from the actions of police officers who responded to the scene of the stabbing. During the murder trial, jurors heard that Degoa misled officers by claiming he was the victim of a racist attack.As a result, officers initially treated Henry Nowak as a suspect and handcuffed him even though the teen had suffered multiple stab wounds.Deputy Police Chief Robert France later apologized, saying he was “really sorry” for arresting and handcuffing Henry shortly before he lost consciousness.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed that its investigation into Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police’s handling of the incident remains ongoing.
The murder trial rejected the claim of self-defense
Nowak, a first-year college student from Chafford Hundred in Essex, was returning to his accommodation after a night out with his football teammates when he encountered Degoa.During the attack, the 23-year-old used a 21cm-long ceremonial kirpan, a blade that some Sikhs carry as a cult.
DeGoa claimed he acted in self-defense, claiming Nowak was drunk, racially abused him and removed his turban.However, prosecutors said the account was a fabricated “evil lie” designed to evade responsibility. Evidence presented during the trial showed that Nowak’s alcohol level was below the legal limit for drunk driving when he died. The jury unanimously found Degoa guilty of murder.Degoa’s mother was also found guilty of assisting an offender after helping to remove the weapon after the attack.
Kirpan’s dismissal becomes a political flashpoint
The case has since sparked calls to change knife laws in Britain, particularly a legal exemption allowing Sikhs to carry a kirpan in public for religious reasons.Zia Yusuf, head of the Reform Party in the United Kingdom, said that the party would abolish the exemption if it came to power, considering that no member of the public should be allowed to carry bladed weapons.“I don’t care what religion you are. No one other than law enforcement will be able to carry lethal weapons under a reformist government,” Youssef wrote on social media platform X.The party also proposed expanding stop and search powers as part of a wider strategy to tackle knife crime.The proposal has drawn criticism from politicians and representatives of the Sikh community who say the actions of one individual should not be used to restrict an ancient religious practice.Labor MP Sarah Coombs rejected calls for a ban, saying that would unfairly stigmatize the entire religious community.“Both the Conservative Party and the Reform Party are now saying the kirpan should be banned. This is completely wrong,” she said.
