A police watchdog has said there is no evidence of misconduct by officers who arrested Henry Nowak, the teenage stabbing victim from the UK, as he lay dying, even as new details emerge about the moments leading up to his death in December 2025.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is reviewing body-worn camera footage and other material involved in the death of Nowak, who was stabbed five times in an incident involving Vickrum Digwa, reports the Telegraph.
Derrick Campbell, director of the IOPC, said: “We acknowledge that this case has raised questions about the actions of the attending officers and we are aware that a few minutes of police body-worn footage has been issued by the force following the conclusion of criminal proceedings.
“As part of our ongoing investigation we are reviewing a large amount of police body-worn footage, which we need to consider in context with other evidence we have obtained, including reviewing material presented during the murder trial, as we establish the full circumstances.”
Campbell also said investigators are due to meet the victim’s family in the coming days.
Body-worn footage released after public and political pressure shows Nowak telling officers he “cannot breathe” multiple times as he lies on the ground. He is then handcuffed while appearing unresponsive, before later falling unconscious.
A police source told reporters the decision to handcuff the injured teenager, who was not resisting, was “inexplicable.”
Digwa, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years, had falsely claimed that Nowak was the aggressor and had racially abused him on the night of December 3, 2025. His brother Gurpreet contacted 999 relaying that allegation. Gurpreet has not been charged.
In reality, Digwa stabbed Nowak multiple times with an eight-inch knife.
Separate footage and witness accounts describe Digwa filming and taunting Nowak after the attack. Digwa is heard saying: “You’re not going to get away with this big man.”
Nowak can later be heard saying, “I am dying,” with Digwa responding, “you're not dying bro”. He also says, “You stabbed me”, to which Digwa replied, “No, I didn't”, and, “you were recording me thinking you're sick."
Judge William Mousley KC said: “You continued to make films of Henry suffering, ignoring much of his desperation at having been stabbed. You told him that had not happened, no doubt to convince others who were nearby.”
The court heard Digwa filmed Nowak for around five minutes while he lay injured and did not call an ambulance. These clips were not played in court due to being described as too disturbing.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is reviewing body-worn camera footage and other material involved in the death of Nowak, who was stabbed five times in an incident involving Vickrum Digwa, reports the Telegraph.
Derrick Campbell, director of the IOPC, said: “We acknowledge that this case has raised questions about the actions of the attending officers and we are aware that a few minutes of police body-worn footage has been issued by the force following the conclusion of criminal proceedings.
“As part of our ongoing investigation we are reviewing a large amount of police body-worn footage, which we need to consider in context with other evidence we have obtained, including reviewing material presented during the murder trial, as we establish the full circumstances.”
Campbell also said investigators are due to meet the victim’s family in the coming days.
Body-worn footage released after public and political pressure shows Nowak telling officers he “cannot breathe” multiple times as he lies on the ground. He is then handcuffed while appearing unresponsive, before later falling unconscious.
A police source told reporters the decision to handcuff the injured teenager, who was not resisting, was “inexplicable.”
Digwa, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years, had falsely claimed that Nowak was the aggressor and had racially abused him on the night of December 3, 2025. His brother Gurpreet contacted 999 relaying that allegation. Gurpreet has not been charged.
In reality, Digwa stabbed Nowak multiple times with an eight-inch knife.
Separate footage and witness accounts describe Digwa filming and taunting Nowak after the attack. Digwa is heard saying: “You’re not going to get away with this big man.”
Nowak can later be heard saying, “I am dying,” with Digwa responding, “you're not dying bro”. He also says, “You stabbed me”, to which Digwa replied, “No, I didn't”, and, “you were recording me thinking you're sick."
Judge William Mousley KC said: “You continued to make films of Henry suffering, ignoring much of his desperation at having been stabbed. You told him that had not happened, no doubt to convince others who were nearby.”
The court heard Digwa filmed Nowak for around five minutes while he lay injured and did not call an ambulance. These clips were not played in court due to being described as too disturbing.
