'I'm not a racist': Henry Nowak's final plea to his killer moments before dying is revealed in fresh court transcripts

Published: 15:18, 12 July 2026 | Updated: 15:25, 12 July 2026 Henry Nowak pleaded with his killer, 'I'm not a racist', as he lay dying after being stabbed, newly released court documents have revealed.  Vickrum Digwa, 23, used an eight-inch ceremonial dagger to stab Mr Nowak and told a 'wicked lie' about him to the first officers on the scene, claiming that the finance student shouted racist abuse, punched him and knocked off his turban. The injured student was then arrested as he lay dying on the ground, drowning in his own blood.  The teenager said four times to the police, 'I've been stabbed', to which one policeman replied, 'I don't think you have mate'. Digwa was sentenced to life with a minimum of 21 years in prison for the murder, which sparked widespread outrage over Hampshire Police's handling of the case.     New court documents have revealed details of the moments after the stabbing.  Andrew Mortimore, a resident of the street where the stabbing took place told the court that he and his wife Fiona were reading in bed at around 11.15pm.  They then heard shouting and male voices 'arguing loudly'.  Henry was a finance student at the University of Southampton and was described as 'kind and talented' by his family Police body cam footage shows innocent victim Henry Nowak, 18, being forced into handcuffs by officers after he was stabbed repeatedly by a knife-obsessed Sikh man  An image released by the CPS of killer Digwa wearing a Sikh kirpan ceremonial knife  He told the court: 'During the time I was observing these people outside the block of flats, I think I heard a male voice say, "I’m not racist." I couldn’t hear anything else that was being said. These are the only actual words I think I heard.' Nicholas Lobbenberg KC, prosecuting, told the jury: 'Even as Henry is dying [he said] I’m not a racist … That was heard by Andrew Mortimore, one of the witnesses that was read to you, and as he lay dying, Henry denied that he was the attacker.' The documents, first obtained by The Sunday Times, showed that the prosecutor had told the court that the murderer's brother, Gurpreet, called the police and claimed Mr Nowak 'verbally attacked my brother racially'.  Mr Nowak can be heard pleading in the background: 'No, I didn't'.  Documents also showed that Mr Nowak's former girlfriend had completely rejected claims that he was a racist.  The woman of Jamaican and Irish descent told the court that her race had 'never been an issue' in their relationship.  She said: 'In fact, Henry was very proud of my heritage.'   Mr Nowak died from drowning in his own blood shortly after his wrongful arrest. Digwa, 23, was found guilty of murdering student Henry, 18, with an eight-inch ceremonial blade Following the killer's sentencing, the Nowak family released photos of Henry as a child Judge William Mousley KC said he was 'sure' Mr Nowak never said anything racist to the murderer.  Digwa was caught on camera saying 'I am a bad man' before the fatal attack.  The documents also showed that police had secretly bugged a police van, which carried Digwa and his brother Gurpreet. In the van, Gurpreet asked his brother: 'What did you do? Did you do anything?' Digwa replied: 'Yes' and pointed at the various parts of his body where he had stabbed Mr Nowak.  Gurpreet told his brother: 'You should have hit him or beaten him up. Why did you use the kirpan?' Digwa replied: 'I am a fool. I'm an idiot.'  It was revealed last month that it took eight minutes for police to find the stab wound that killed Mr Nowak.  After realising that Mr Nowak was not breathing, police officers gave CPR but realised that blood was coming from his nose.  After all of Henry's clothes were cut away, the extent of his injuries became even more apparent.  Henry pictured with his father Mark, who blasted police for how his son was treated in his final moments 'Has he been stabbed there?' the male officer asked, before saying he was 'pushing on a [swear word] stab wound'. When a paramedic ran up to them, the male police officer explained that they had 'just discovered a stab wound' in Henry's chest. The two officers who were first to arrive at the scene are now being investigated by the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) for potential gross misconduct.  Digwa last week denied a string of charges relating to the possession of an arsenal of 55 offensive weapons. Vickrum appeared remotely from Frankland Prison in County Durham today at Southampton Magistrates' Court, alongside his brother, 27-year-old Gurpreet Digwa, and his father, 52-year-old Moga Singh, who have also been charged with owning illegal weapons at their home in Southampton.  Their trial will be held on September 27 next year.  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.