The mother of Vickrum Digwa, the murderer whose false claims of racism against his victim Henry Nowak triggered riots in Southampton, has been jailed for removing a knife from the scene of the killing. This shocking case highlights the severe consequences of tampering with evidence and obstructing justice. At Southampton crown court, Kiran Kaur, 53, was jailed for three years for assisting an offender by taking the knife from where her son had murdered Nowak on 3 December 2025 back to her family home.
Background of the Case
Digwa, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years for stabbing Nowak, an 18-year-old student, five times. When police arrived at the murder scene in Southampton, Digwa falsely claimed Nowak had racially abused him and knocked his turban off, causing officers to arrest and handcuff the student before they saw his fatal injuries. Kaur was found guilty by the same jurors who convicted Digwa of murder and of carrying a knife in public, following a trial in May.
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Sentencing and Judicial Remarks
Sentencing Kaur, William Mousley KC said: “A responsible parent would have challenged their son over their actions and encouraged them to do the right thing. Instead, you took the knife home and put it with a larger collection of ceremonial and other weapons in your son’s bedroom. That would have helped to conceal what it had been used for.” The judge said Kaur’s actions before and after taking the dagger away “added to your son’s pretence that he had done nothing wrong and that he was the victim”.
Impact on the Investigation
The court heard the knife was recovered after examination of CCTV, and determined by police to be the murder weapon about a week after Nowak was killed. Nicholas Lobbenberg KC had told the court Kaur’s role was crucial in removing the murder weapon at a time the police were coming to the scene. The prosecutor said: “The absence of a weapon at the scene caused by her actions hampered the police attending who were, as your Honour will recall, confronted with a wall of lies. “She chose not to disclose what she had done. Absence of that weapon led to Henry dying terrified, alone and disbelieved. Her actions co
Key Takeaways from the Case
- Tampering with evidence can lead to serious criminal charges, even for family members.
- False claims of racism can escalate situations and mislead authorities.
- Justice system holds all parties accountable, including those who aid offenders.
- Sentencing reflects the severity of obstructing a murder investigation.
Comparison of Sentences in Similar Cases
| Case | Offender | Sentence | Key Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Nowak Murder | Vickrum Digwa | Life, min 20 years | False claims, knife crime |
| Assisting Offender | Kiran Kaur | 3 years imprisonment | Removing murder weapon |
| Similar UK Case (2023) | Anonymous | 4 years | Hiding evidence post-murder |
FAQ
Why was Kiran Kaur jailed for removing a knife?
Kaur was jailed for assisting an offender by removing the murder weapon from the scene, which hampered the police investigation and allowed her son to maintain false claims of innocence.
What was Vickrum Digwa's sentence for murdering Henry Nowak?
Digwa received a life sentence with a minimum of 20 years for stabbing Henry Nowak five times. He also made false claims of racism that led to riots in Southampton.
How did the false claims affect the murder investigation?
Digwa's false claim that Nowak racially abused him caused police to handcuff the victim before noticing his fatal injuries, delaying medical aid and allowing the murder weapon to be removed by Kaur.
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