The Trump administration’s State Department issued a statement on the murder of British student Henry Nowak on Thursday, June 4, saying the police handling of the case is a symptom of “ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing” that denotes a major civilizational decline in the West.
The comments came after bodycam footage emerged showing 18-year-old Nowak lying on a Southampton street last December, handcuffed behind his back while bleeding from five stab wounds.
Officers appeared to doubt his repeated claims that he had been stabbed, even as he told them “I can’t breathe” multiple times. Nowak died at the scene.
His killer, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, had told police the teenager racially attacked him and knocked off his turban. Officers took Digwa at his word and treated Nowak as the suspect.
Digwa was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years on June 1. His mother, Kiran Kaur, was convicted of assisting an offender.
Also Read: UK Updates Travel Notice for Japan – What Visitors Need to Know
The case has now triggered protests, political debate, and an official police watchdog investigation.
Hampshire police have apologized to Nowak’s family. Four officers have been removed from duty while the Independent Office for Police Conduct examines their actions. A coroner is also looking into whether the handcuffing contributed to the student’s death.
Nowak, a first-year finance student at the University of Southampton, had been walking home after a night out with friends on December 3, 2025. He was attacked in the Portswood area.
Digwa used a 21cm dagger that he said he carried as part of his Sikh faith. Prosecutors told the court he had an obsession with weapons and had previously been barred from a local gurdwara.
Bodycam Footage Reveals Henry Nowak’s Final Moments
Bodycam video released this week captured Nowak’s final minutes as he pleaded with officers about his injuries.
One officer replied, “Don’t think you have, mate.” Nowak’s hands were cuffed as he lay on the ground. Medical experts have suggested the restraints may have worsened his internal bleeding from the deep chest wound.
The Nowak family described the police treatment as “inhumane and degrading” but made clear that Digwa alone was responsible for the murder.
In court, Henry’s father spoke of the horrific pain of losing his son. His mother said a bright future had been cruelly taken away.
Henry was one of four siblings from Chafford Hundred in Essex. Friends remembered him as a careful, humorous young man with strong principles.
After the attack, Digwa filmed parts of the scene, and his brother called emergency services claiming Digwa was the victim.
Also Read: Trump Draws Hard Iran Red Line as Congress Moves to Block War Powers Expansion
The jury rejected Digwa’s self-defense claim after hearing evidence that he stabbed the unarmed Nowak multiple times.
The case has thrown a spotlight on long-running concerns about knife crime in UK cities and claims of uneven policing.
Critics say officers sometimes prioritize avoiding charges of racism over clear evidence at a scene.
Protests in Southampton and other areas have drawn large crowds. Some turned violent, with projectiles thrown at police.
Trump Administration Condemns Police Handling of Henry Nowak Case
The Trump administration’s State Department post on X extended official US condolences to Nowak’s family and the British public while urging Western nations to reject what it called two-tier practices.
“The United States sends our condolences to the family of Henry Nowak and the people of the United Kingdom at this troubling time,” the statement reads.
Many Britons watching the video have asked why officers did not immediately treat Nowak as a stabbing victim. Why was the word of the armed man accepted so quickly? And why was a dying teenager left in handcuffs instead of receiving urgent medical help?
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is still conducting investigations to shed more light on the matter, while Hampshire police say they are cooperating fully.
Nowak’s family has called for a detailed review and changes to stop similar failures.
