“I can’t breathe.” With these words, lying on the sidewalk in handcuffs, the 18-year-old student breathed his last in 2025, while others ignored his pleas, believing the lies of his killer.
The video from the officers’ uniform cameras, released with the permission of the victim’s family, has caused a political and social earthquake in , reopening the debate about police brutality, knife crimes, but also the religious exemption to carrying guns.
The timeline of the crime
Novak suffered stab wounds to his legs and a fatal wound to the heart from a 21cm llama, which 23-year-old Vikrum Digwa claimed he carried as part of his Sikh faith. Digua was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum sentence of 21 years.
Novak kept repeating to officers “I can’t breathe” as he passed out in handcuffs after the attack. The Police believed the lies of his killer who claimed he had been the victim of a racist attack.
Video released by police, with the permission of Novak’s family, shows him pleading “I’ve been stabbed” and an officer replying “I don’t think so, man”.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said an investigation into the police force’s actions is ongoing.
Speaking earlier in the House of Commons, Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmoud revealed that a police officer unrelated to the case was mistakenly identified and forced to move to protect himself and his family.
The Attorney General’s office is also reviewing the prison sentence handed down to Digua, following “multiple requests” for it to be reviewed under the Unreasonably Lenient Sentencing (ULS) regime.
🇬🇧 Bodycam footage has been released showing Henry Nowak begging for an ambulance before being handcuffed behind his back.
Nowak: “I’ve been stabbed”
Officer: “I don’t think you have mate”
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— Europa.com (@europa)
“Inhuman treatment”
The family of Novak, from Chafford Hundred, Essex, described his treatment by police as “inhumane and degrading” and the force apologized.
His father Mark said: “Henry told the officers he couldn’t breathe nine times. He told them he had been stabbed four times. Henry was dragged onto the gravel, his hands forced behind his back and handcuffed.”
He added that the contrast between the way his son was treated and Digua’s was “unbearable”. “Henry should not have died on the streets of Southampton in police custody,” he added.
In the video, an officer arriving at the scene is heard asking: “What’s your name, man?”
Novak, who is lying on his back on the ground, weakly replies “Henry”. As the video continues, Digua enters the frame. He claims Novak pulled off his turban and grabbed him by the hair.
The officer asks Digua if he’s injured, to which Digua replies, “Yeah, yeah, I’ve got a swollen eye here, a little bruise here.”
The officers then turn on Novak, who can be heard repeating “I’ve been stabbed” and then “I can’t breathe” as they force him to sit down to be handcuffed.
Speaking outside court, Henry Novak’s father Mark said his son “did not die with dignity”. As the video continues, the officer is heard asking where Henry has been stabbed. He then adds “I don’t think so, man.” While being handcuffed, Novak says “I can’t breathe” three more times.
The officer is heard saying “He says he’s been stabbed so let’s check him out.” He appears to briefly lift Novak’s shirt around the belt area before letting him lay on his side.
A female police officer is then heard asking: “Where do you think he got stabbed? In the face?’ A male voice replies, “He hasn’t been stabbed.” Novak, who appears unresponsive, is then told he is under arrest for assault.
“An absolute tragedy”
Hampshire Police Deputy Chief Robert French said that within three minutes of interacting with Novak, officers began performing CPR on him.
“This is an absolute tragedy and I’m sorry that they couldn’t save Henry that night, and I’m sorry that Henry was handcuffed and arrested as he passed out,” he said.
“The coroner who spoke to the court was clear that there was nothing the officers could have done that day to save Henry. His wound was deep and internal, the bleeding extensive but internal.”
Political reactions
Addressing the House of Commons, Mahmoud he said the stabbing was a “vicious act” and wanted to “pay tribute to the strong words of the Novak family.” He said the bodycam footage was “a disturbing and tragic sight”.
“The IOPC will be equipped and encouraged to act to find the truth and ensure, if necessary, that there are consequences,” he said. But he noted there was a “dangerous undercurrent” in the way some reacted to “this horrific crime”.
Sir Keir Starmer commented on the case in a post on X, where he wrote: “This is a horrible, shocking case. We must end the cycle of tragedy by tackling the horror of knife crime.”
The leader of Reform UK, Nigel Faragesaid on social media that citizens should react with “pure, cold outrage” over Novak’s treatment.
In a statement, he said “Henry’s family have reacted to this in the most extremely dignified way” and claimed Britain has a “two-speed culture where the rights and privileges of white people are less important than those of ethnic minorities”.
The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenochaccused Farage of deepening divisions, arguing that the police should treat everyone equally, regardless of race.
The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Daveysaid it was “a callous killing made far worse by the police response.”
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones called Mr Novak’s death a “national tragedy”.
A spokesman for the Attorney General said: “We have received multiple requests to have Vikrum Digwa’s sentence considered under the unduly lenient sentencing regime. Law officers have 28 days from conviction to carefully consider the case and make a decision.”
The rules for the Kirpan
Under current law, devout Sikhs have legal protection for carrying a small, curved llama, known as a kirpan, close to their body for religious purposes.
The Sikh Federation clarified that Digua’s weapon was much larger and was not a religious symbol, but a regular weapon. In fact, the community had banned the attacker from entering a church in Southampton long before the murder. Digua’s family apologized to the victims and the Sikh community, calling for the tragedy not to be used to fuel racial division.
