The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed that two men have been charged following violent protests in Southampton on Tuesday, sparked by the murder case of Henry Nowak.
Background of the Case
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the Hampshire port city on Tuesday, converging around Southampton police station. The protests erupted after it emerged that officers had handcuffed the 18-year-old student, Henry Nowak, as he lay dying on December 3 last year.
On Monday, Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for fatally stabbing Henry. Police body-cam footage showed Digwa telling officers at the scene that he was the victim of a racist attack, which led to Henry being arrested.
Charges Filed
The CPS has charged Matt Styler, 50, with assaulting a police officer, specifically assault of an emergency worker. Daniel Frost, 44, has been charged with violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. Both individuals are scheduled to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Sophie Stevens, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wessex, stated: “We have decided to prosecute Matt Styler with assault of an emergency worker. Later, our out-of-hours team CPS Direct also directed that Daniel Frost be charged with violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon – this followed an investigation into alleged offending during protests held in Southampton on Tuesday evening.”
She added: “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings. We have worked closely with Hampshire Police as it has carried out its investigation.”
Protest Details
The demonstrations saw clashes between protesters and police, resulting in 11 officers and a police dog being injured. The unrest followed the release of body-cam footage showing the circumstances of Henry Nowak’s arrest and stabbing.
