The man who murdered student Henry Nowak is being allowed to appeal against the length of his sentence.

Vickrum Digwa stabbed 18-year-old Henry Nowak to death in Southampton in December 2025. In June, he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years.

He has now been given permission to challenge the length of that sentence at the Court of Appeal on 5 November.

The court will also decide on a referral by the Attorney General’s office, which argued the sentence was too lenient.

Digwa has also applied to appeal against his conviction for murder, which will be decided separately.

The 23-year-old was also sentenced for possessing a knife in public, despite claiming in court that the 21cm (8in) blade was being carried as part of his Sikh faith.

After stabbing Nowak, who came from Chafford Hundred in Essex, Digwa lied to police that he was the victim of a racist attack.

The case later sparked protests after police body-worn footage was released showing officers failing to give Nowak first aid and instead handcuffing him as he lay dying, despite him telling officers he could not breathe.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct previously said it was investigating two officers for potential gross misconduct.

Twelve police officers and a police dog were injured during the protests in Southampton on 2 June.

Demonstrators gathered outside the city centre police station before moving to an area near the Digwa family home and the murder scene.

More than 30 people have so far been charged with violent disorder following the incident.

On 15 June, former Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC referred the case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Sikh leaders have reported a “backlash” and increase in “hate crime” against their community following the case.

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