British Court to Review “Too Lenient” Sentence for Sikh Man Vikram Digva, Who Killed 18-Year-Old Henry Novak

The Court of Appeal will review the minimum 21-year prison term given to Sikh man Vikram Digwa for the murder of Henry Novak. The case was referred for review by Britain’s solicitor general.

In a statement on Monday, Solicitor General Ellie Reeves said the case had “horrified” her.

Protests began in Southampton after 23-year-old Digwa was found guilty on Monday of murdering 18-year-old student Henry Novak.

Novak was stabbed to death in December 2025. Digwa falsely claimed that Novak had racially abused him and attacked him. Body-camera footage released by Hampshire police showed Novak being handcuffed despite repeatedly telling officers that he had been stabbed and could not breathe. One officer told him: “I don’t think you’ve been stabbed, mate.”

Southampton Crown Court heard that Digwa wore a small kirpan—a ceremonial blade carried by Sikhs—around his neck under his clothing. This was in keeping with his religious duty, and Sikhs are allowed to carry such an item. However, he also had a much larger knife on him, which he used to stab Novak.

Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years, minus time spent in custody before trial. The Court of Appeal will now assess whether that term was unduly lenient. Such a referral is possible under the unduly lenient sentence review procedure: anyone can ask the attorney general’s office to review certain Crown Court sentences, after which the office decides whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.

Keir Starmer previously said the body-camera footage showing Novak’s final moments was “harrowing” for him and that there were “obviously serious questions that need to be answered” in the case, including about how allegations of racism affected decision-making.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct, the oversight body for police in England and Wales, is investigating the actions of law enforcement officers. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told the House of Commons that she expected the agency’s report within three months.