'Manipulated in our darkest hour': Family of murdered student Henry Nowak say police failed them

The family of murdered student Henry Nowak say they have been "failed multiple times" by the police response to the 18-year-old's death.

His family accused police of misleading them, giving changing accounts of their response to his stabbing and initially portraying him as the aggressor in the situation.

Mr Nowak, who was fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton last year, was handcuffed by police as he lay dying when his attacker falsely accused him of racial abuse.

His father Mark, stepmother Katie, mother Lucy and older sister Olivia made the comments in an interview for an ITV Tonight documentary, Dear Henry: Our Fight For Justice.

Katie Nowak described being "failed multiple times," and said she worries that the family had "been manipulated in our darkest hours".

"I fear that some decisions were made to try and protect the police and their reputation rather than help us as a family," she added.

Family not shown footage until trial

Katie Nowak also revealed that the family weren't shown police body-worn camera footage of the final moments of Henry's life until the first day of the trial.

Mark Nowak said the family were initially told his son had been administered first aid by officers.

However, in the footage shown in court after his death, Henry can be heard repeating, "I've been stabbed".

Rather than administering first aid, an officer replies: "Don't think you have, mate."

"The story was evolving every time we had an interaction," Mark Nowak said.

Police did not discover the fatal stab wound to his chest until they performed CPR on him, eight minutes after arriving on the scene. 

"That evolution of what actually happened that night really shocked us, and we felt we were being hoodwinked. We felt we were being not told the truth," Mark Nowak added.

He also recalled being asked to approve a draft press release that depicted his son as an aggressor while driving home from identifying his body in Southampton.

Henry's mother, Lucy Ross, and sister were told of the contents of the footage by Mark Nowak, but they had never seen it. 

"I will never watch that video," said Lucy. "Henry told the police nine times that he can't breathe, he can't breathe and he's been stabbed. What more do you want?"

"The last thing I want to do is hear Henry's voice begging for help. I won't do it." 

Henry's family say police also asked them about his political views, as well as their own. 

His mother said: "I did think at the time, it's a really strange question. You've just been told your son's been murdered and then they asked that." 

Fight for justice

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) previously confirmed it was investigating potential failures in the officers' response to Mr Nowak after he was stabbed.

However, the family said they received a letter from the IOPC in April saying that no officers would face a criminal investigation because there were "no concerns identified in relation to officer actions".

But in July, the police watchdog announced two officers were under investigation for potential gross misconduct over their response to Mr Nowak's stabbing.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Chief Constable Alexis Boon admitted the force had "failed" Mr Nowak when he needed their help.

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He said in a statement that he was "incredibly sorry" that the police force failed Henry Nowak "in his final moments, when he needed us most".

Chief Constable Alexis Boon said: "I recognise that, for Henry's family, this has been about more than the circumstances of one night. They have rightly raised serious concerns about the police response and their treatment throughout the investigation and since. No family should ever find themselves in this position.

"The events surrounding Henry's death remain subject to extensive independent scrutiny. We are co-operating fully with the reviews by the Home Office and HMICFRS, the IOPC investigations and the coronial inquest.

"Henry deserved better. His family deserved better. I am determined that we learn every lesson from this tragedy and ensure families who place their trust in us are treated with honesty, compassion and professionalism."

IOPC director of engagement Derrick Campbell said: "Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Henry's family and friends for their tragic loss.

"The IOPC is committed to establishing the full circumstances of this case, including whether any of the officers involved should face disciplinary proceedings, and providing Henry's family with answers to the questions they rightly have about how the police treated Henry in the way they did on that terrible night, and why.

"Our investigators continue to have regular contact with Henry's family. We are working hard to conclude our independent investigation as quickly as possible while ensuring we have robustly explored all lines of enquiry."

A Home Office spokesperson told ITV News: "We are continuing discussions with Sikh stakeholders and the police about the law on carrying knives in public and the religious reasons defence.

"The Home Secretary has also announced a rapid independent review, led by Alex Chalk KC, into the circumstances surrounding Henry's murder, including whether opportunities were missed and whether lessons can be learned.

Digwa, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years in June for Mr Nowak's murder.

(c) Sky News 2026: 'Manipulated in our darkest hour': Family of murdered student Henry Nowak say police failed them