COURT OF APPEAL RAISES HENRY NOWAK KILLER'S SENTENCE TO 25 YEARS

The Court of Appeal has increased the minimum term handed to Vickrum Digwa, who murdered 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton on December 3 last year, from 21 years to 25 years. Attorney General Ellie Reeves had referred the original sentence to the court as "unduly lenient", while Digwa separately tried to have it reduced, arguing it was "manifestly excessive". Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, sitting with Mr Justice Nicklin and Mr Justice Wall, rejected Digwa's challenge and ruled the 21-year term "fell outside the range reasonably open" to the original sentencing judge. Lady Carr said a minimum term of 21 years "did not adequately reflect the overall seriousness of the murder", adding: "It was not only lenient, but unduly so."

Digwa, now 23, repeatedly stabbed Henry with a ceremonial knife after encountering him in Southampton, then told police that Henry had racially abused him. He also used his phone to film Henry as he lay dying, zooming in on his face and calling him a "f***ing c***" while telling him he had "f***ed up". Police body-worn video later released showed officers handcuffing Henry as his condition deteriorated, prompting public reaction when the footage emerged. The judges said they had viewed the footage of Digwa filming Henry, describing it as showing "incomprehensible cruelty".

Henry's family said the increased term brought "no reduction in our suffering" and that "our fight for justice is far from over". In a statement, they said: "This decision represents an important step towards justice for Henry and our family. But no sentence, however long, can ever give Henry his life back... We have been given a life sentence of grief."