The man who stabbed Henry Nowak to death is seeking to appeal his sentence, with the case having sparked widespread protests and outrage.
A life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years was handed down to Vickrum Digwa for the brutal killing. However, the case has raised serious questions about the treatment of the victim, Henry Nowak, by police officers at the scene.
Nowak's father, Mark, has spoken out about the 'unbearable' difference in the way his son and the killer were treated. He described the officers' actions as 'inhumane and degrading', stating that his son was formally arrested and read his rights while struggling to breathe, despite being a dying victim.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also weighed in on the case, expressing concerns about the treatment of Nowak and the potential for racial bias in the officers' decision-making. An investigation by the Independent Office for Police is currently underway, looking into potential gross misconduct by two officers.
The investigation will also examine whether the officers failed to realize that Nowak needed urgent medical attention and whether they should have taken action to provide first aid instead of arresting him. Additionally, the watchdog is determining whether the officers' decision to dismiss Nowak's claim of being stabbed was a breach of conduct standards.
In a separate development, Digwa has reportedly requested to be segregated at HMP Frankland in Durham due to concerns over his security. He is said to be 'terrified' of being killed, citing the case of child-killer Ian Huntley, who was attacked by a fellow inmate at the same prison in February.
