The killer of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak has had his minimum prison sentence increased from 21 years to 25 years, after the Court of Appeal ruled the original term was "unduly lenient".

Vickrum Digwa, 23, fatally stabbed Mr Nowak, a first-year Southampton University student, on 3 December 2025 as he walked home. Digwa filmed him as he lay dying and falsely accused him of racially abusing him.

Digwa was sentenced to life at Southampton Crown Court on 1 June 2026, with a 21-year minimum term. On Thursday 5 November, the Court of Appeal raised it to 25 years.

Judges: original term "unduly lenient"

The Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr, said 21 years "did not adequately reflect the overall seriousness of the murder" and "was not only lenient, but unduly so".

Digwa's challenge that his sentence was "manifestly excessive" was ruled "unarguable".

Attorney General Ellie Reeves KC referred the case under the unduly lenient sentence scheme. The 25-year term is reduced for 175 days on remand, so he will serve at least 24 years and 190 days.

Family statement

Mr Nowak's family said in a statement: "We have been given a life sentence of grief. There is no appeal for us, no reduction in our suffering and no prospect of ever getting our son back."

The family has called for changes to knife laws and, in Thursday night's ITV Tonight documentary Dear Henry: Our Fight For Justice, urged the government to clarify the definition of a kirpan, the ceremonial dagger Digwa was carrying.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered an independent rapid review led by former lord chancellor Alex Chalk. The Independent Office for Police Conduct expects its investigation into the police response to conclude early next year; two officers have been under investigation for potential gross misconduct since July.

Sources: GOV.UK (Attorney General's Office), Man who murdered Henry Nowak has sentence increased, 5 November 2026; PA via Gazette & Herald, Henry Nowak's killer Vickrum Digwa prison term increased at Court of Appeal, 5 November 2026.