UK police come under pressure after young man dies while handcuffed and injured

UK police face a backlash on Tuesday over the case of an 18-year-old student who was handcuffed as he agonized with stab wounds after the man who stabbed him falsely claimed a racist attack.

Henry Nowak died after a knife attack in the city of Southampton, in southern England, in December last year. His killer, Vickrum Digwa, a 23-year-old Sikh man, was sentenced to life in prison on Monday for lying to police at the time, claiming that Nowak had assaulted him.

In footage from a police officer's body camera, Nowak appears lying in the street saying "I've been stabbed" and "I can't breathe," while an officer responds "I don't think so, buddy."

Nigel Farage, whose anti-immigration Reform Party leads in opinion polls, said this was an example of how the rights of ethnic minorities override those of white Britons.

"The fear of being called a racist was greater than dealing with the murder of Henry Nowak," he said in a statement. "We should respond to this with pure, cold indignation."

Judge William Mousley acknowledged in court on Monday that the case had heightened racial tensions across the UK. A protest is planned for Tuesday night (2) in the city of Southampton, and others have been announced online for this week.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister, told BBC Radio that the body camera footage was "appalling", adding: "The conduct of the police, when you look at the scene, is shocking."

Understand the case
Digwa stabbed Nowak with a knife he said he was allowed to carry due to exemptions granted to Sikhs for carrying ceremonial daggers.

When the police arrived, Digwa said that his turban had been torn off and that he had an injury to his eye.

Nowak's family called the treatment he received from police "inhumane and degrading", but in a statement made outside court, his father said his death should not be "used to create further division, hatred or tension".

The British politician sought to draw parallels with the murder of George Floyd in 2020 in the USA, which sparked the Black Lives Matter movement.

Floyd said, "I can't breathe" as a police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes.

Nowak died shortly after being handcuffed by police. As soon as they realized he was injured, they released him and began CPR.

Hampshire Police, who have since apologized, are being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

"The details of the police response raise serious concerns about the impartiality, fairness and discretion of the police," said Police Commissioner Donna Jones, adding that the investigation's findings will be published without delay.

Source: CNN