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The father called for a ‘full, fearless and transparent’ investigation into the police handling of his son’s murder.
MPs reacted with fury following Digwa’s conviction for murder last week, questioning how the killer was so easily able to dupe officers into arresting his dying victim – a blunder described as a ‘shocking example of two-tier policing’.
He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years, after a jury found him guilty of ‘aggressively pursuing’ Mr Nowak and stabbing him six times – including a chest wound 8cm deep.
Passing sentence, Judge William Mousley KC told the defendant that being able to wear a knife in public was a ‘privilege’ that came with a ‘huge responsibility’, adding it was ‘fundamental principle’ of Sikhism that the knife was ‘never to be carried for an offensive purpose’.
Continuing his remarks to the defendant, he said of Mr Nowak: ‘I am sure that Henry said nothing racist.
‘You are the only person to make that claim and it is completely at odds with his previous character.
‘You have brought shame upon your family and your religion.
‘Your actions have stirred up racial tension in Southampton and across the country which have made many Sikhs worried about their safety.’
Mark Nowak, Henry’s father, delivers a family statement outside Southampton Crown Court yesterday
Henry pictured with his father Mark, who yesterday blasted police for how his son was treated in his final moments
Prosecutor Mr Lobbenberg earlier told the sentencing hearing: ‘Henry Nowak dying alone, humiliated and handcuffed was a direct consequence of Vickrum Digwa’s dishonesty.
‘Vickrum Digwa chose on two occasions to make videos, first of Henry fleeing and then of Henry dying with close-ups of his face. The Crown says that is both intrusive and humiliating.
‘His defence describing Henry as a violent drunk racist aggressor compounds the grief of the family.’
The court heard that the killer slept in a bedroom with an ‘arsenal of weapons’ that he and his brother shared.
Digwa had a fascination with antique Sikh weaponry and even described the murder weapon in ‘loving terms’ when he was questioned about it.
Hampshire Police was last week forced to apologise to Mr Nowak’s family for arresting the fatally injured teenager.
Deputy Chief Constable Robert France told the Daily Mail: ‘I’m sorry that he was handcuffed and arrested.’
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is looking into how the officers acted.
The case has caused international outrage, with tech billionaire Elon Musk offering to fund a private prosecution against the police. It also raises questions about whether anti-racism training may be having a catastrophic impact on officers’ judgment.
Following the killer’s sentencing, the Nowak family released photos of Henry as a child
Henry’s father Mark said: ‘Henry should not have died on the streets of Southampton in police custody. The way he was treated was inhumane and degrading’
The trial heard Mr Nowak was in his first term at the University of Southampton when he went for a night out in the city on December 3. The teenager headed home at around 11pm.
Jurors were told he was speaking to friends on Snapchat when he came across Digwa, who was ‘carrying an extremely large knife in a sheath openly displayed over his clothing’.
A video of the two men talking was found on Mr Nowak’s phone, which was discovered in his killer’s pocket.
In the clip, the teenager can be heard saying: ‘You’re a bad man, say you’re a bad man, go on.’
Digwa replied: ‘I am a bad man.’ The footage then cut off.
After the fatal blows were dealt, Digwa ‘aggressively pursued’ and filmed his victim as he tried to escape. His brother, Gurpreet, then arrived and called 999, claiming his sibling had been ‘attacked racially’.
Officers arrived soon after, at which point Digwa used his ‘trump card’ – accusing Mr Nowak of racism.
This was a ‘wicked lie about a dying man’, Mr Lobbenberg told the jury.