The grandmother of Vickrum Digwa, the man sentenced to life for murdering Henry Nowak, has stated that her family is living in fear of retaliation following the killing. Digwa, 23, was handed a life sentence on Monday with a minimum term of 21 years for stabbing 18-year-old Henry Nowak to death.
When police arrived at the scene, Digwa falsely claimed he was the victim of a racist attack. Henry told officers he had been stabbed and said 'I can't breathe,' yet he was handcuffed and told he was under arrest. The incident sparked major protests in Southampton, during which police faced missiles thrown by demonstrators.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the killer's grandmother, Bimla Kaur, 75, said the family is living in fear of retaliation. She also defended Digwa's mother, Kiran Kaur, who stands accused of assisting in concealing the weapon used in the killing, asserting that she acted as 'any mum would do.'
Family Shattered by the Tragedy
Speaking from her Southampton home, Mrs Kaur said: 'This whole case has destroyed two families: Henry's and mine. We are in a hard situation because we still have to support him [Digwa] but at the same time our hearts are broken and I'm very sorry for what's happened.'
Describing her grandson as a 'difficult boy,' Mrs Kaur told the Daily Mail that the family had been left shattered but maintained that his actions contradicted their beliefs. Digwa is understood to have been part of the Nihang Sikh order, an ancient martial tradition renowned for its use of swords and other weapons in religious practice.
Mrs Kaur said: 'These weapons are not meant to be used on the innocent, so something has gone wrong. He's done a very bad thing - there's no argument over that.'
Betrayal of Sikh Tradition
She went on to say that while she takes great pride in the family's Sikh heritage, including their ties to the Nihang order, Digwa had betrayed that tradition. The Nihangs are a historic Sikh martial order dating back centuries, known for their distinctive blue robes and traditional weaponry, and for practising Gatka, a form of armed combat training. Digwa was regularly seen taking part in Gatka demonstrations and teaching Sikh youngsters at a local gurdwara near his home in Southampton.
Mrs Kaur said: 'Most of the men in this family are Nihangs and so is Vickrum. As a Nihang, Vickrum was devoted to that way of life. It meant everything to him.'
Yet she was keen to reiterate: 'But these weapons are not meant to be used on the innocent.'
Family Forced into Hiding
Mrs Kaur revealed that Digwa's father Moga Singh and brother Gurpreet Singh have been forced into hiding after their home was targeted in the wake of the conviction. She said: 'It's not safe for them to be in their home because it was targeted the other night and it's only a matter of time before it is attacked again. Both Moga and Gurpreet are with relatives in a safe place and I'm not sure if they'll ever return.'
She further disclosed that other members of the wider family were also living in fear of further attacks. 'We're all living in fear because we've had threats and are worried that we might also get attacked. But we've been in this city a long time and we don't have anywhere else to go.'
Mother Awaits Sentencing
Digwa's mother, Kiran Kaur, 52, is currently in custody awaiting sentencing for assisting an offender after she allegedly helped remove the weapon from the scene. Mrs Kaur came to her defence, saying: 'I've been to see her in prison and she's doing the best she can. She only did what any mother would have done, which is to protect her child.'
She went on to add: 'Kiran has done a good job raising those two boys and was very supportive of them becoming Nihangs. It's a huge honour for our family.'
Community Reaction
Digwa was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years after Judge William Mousley KC declared that he had brought shame upon his family and religion. The court was told that Digwa was 'weapons obsessed' and had been carrying multiple blades, including illegal weapons, alongside religious ceremonial items permitted under UK law. His father Moga Singh and brother Gurpreet Singh have also faced charges in connection with possession of numerous weapons, including knives, a baton, knuckledusters and swords. A business linked to the family in Southampton has reportedly shut its doors temporarily in the wake of the trial's conclusion.
Parts of the Sikh community have disassociated themselves from Digwa, branding him an 'imposter' who exploited religious tradition. One community member said: 'Digwa had a really bad temper and thought he could get away with anything. A lot of people here didn't like him.' Another added: 'He disgraced us all.'
