The Sikh man convicted of murdering 18-year-old Henry Nowak has filed an application to overturn his conviction and reduce his prison sentence, just weeks after receiving a life term for the fatal stabbing.
Court officials confirmed that Vickrum Digwa, 23, has submitted an application seeking permission to appeal both his conviction and sentence. The specific grounds for the appeal have not been made public.
Digwa was sentenced to life in prison last month with a minimum term of 21 years after a jury found him guilty of murdering Nowak. The case has already been referred to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General for consideration of whether the sentence was unduly lenient, according to LBC.
A Court of Appeal official confirmed the unusual situation involving both proceedings, stating: "This person has also recently lodged an application for leave to appeal conviction and sentence."
An appeal judge will now decide whether Digwa's application can proceed. If permission is granted, the case will be heard by a three-judge panel in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division.
The coldblooded murder in December 2025 recevied widespread attention especially after video showed that police handcuffed Nowak as he lay mortally wounded. Digwa had told police the teenager had racially abused him and was the aggressor and cops believed him over the dying man.
Digwa was convicted of fatally stabbing Nowak with a Sikh ceremonial dagger as the student was making his way home from a night out. Nowak would die drowning in his own blood, handcuffed, pleading with officers for medical help. British law doesn't allow civilians to carry knives unless they are part of a religious custom, as they are for Sikhs/
The incident sparked massive backlash and riots, along withrenewed scrutiny of the police's racialized policing response.
Following the sentencing, Henry's father, Mark Nowak, spoke about the family's ordeal.
"It was unbearable" to see how his son had been treated by police in comparison with his killer, he said. He added: "We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension." He added that his son did not die with dignity.
Earlier in the case, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he "felt sick" after watching footage of officers handcuffing Nowak while he was dying and said there were "serious questions" that needed answering about the police response.
Court officials confirmed that Vickrum Digwa, 23, has submitted an application seeking permission to appeal both his conviction and sentence. The specific grounds for the appeal have not been made public.
Digwa was sentenced to life in prison last month with a minimum term of 21 years after a jury found him guilty of murdering Nowak. The case has already been referred to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General for consideration of whether the sentence was unduly lenient, according to LBC.
A Court of Appeal official confirmed the unusual situation involving both proceedings, stating: "This person has also recently lodged an application for leave to appeal conviction and sentence."
An appeal judge will now decide whether Digwa's application can proceed. If permission is granted, the case will be heard by a three-judge panel in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division.
The coldblooded murder in December 2025 recevied widespread attention especially after video showed that police handcuffed Nowak as he lay mortally wounded. Digwa had told police the teenager had racially abused him and was the aggressor and cops believed him over the dying man.
Digwa was convicted of fatally stabbing Nowak with a Sikh ceremonial dagger as the student was making his way home from a night out. Nowak would die drowning in his own blood, handcuffed, pleading with officers for medical help. British law doesn't allow civilians to carry knives unless they are part of a religious custom, as they are for Sikhs/
The incident sparked massive backlash and riots, along withrenewed scrutiny of the police's racialized policing response.
Following the sentencing, Henry's father, Mark Nowak, spoke about the family's ordeal.
"It was unbearable" to see how his son had been treated by police in comparison with his killer, he said. He added: "We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension." He added that his son did not die with dignity.
Earlier in the case, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he "felt sick" after watching footage of officers handcuffing Nowak while he was dying and said there were "serious questions" that needed answering about the police response.
