Police ‘wanted to intervene in Henry Nowak murder trial and release a statement about disinformation’
Hampshire Police wanted to put out a statement about ‘disinformation’ during the trial of Henry Nowak’s killer – but were told that to do so could jeopardise the entire case.
It is understood there had been concern about online commentary and potential public disorder, so Hampshire Police sought the Crown Prosecution Service’s views on issuing a message telling people it would address questions once proceedings were complete.
Prosecutors advised the force that it could risk impacting the ‘integrity’ of the case against Vickrum Digwa.
Mr Nowak, an 18-year-old student, was handcuffed by police officers who ignored his pleas that he had been stabbed, as he lay dying after Digwa claimed to have been the victim of a racist attack in December last year.
He stabbed Mr Nowak six times with a large ceremonial dagger, then lied to police at the scene that his victim had racially abused and physically attacked him.
Distressing bodycam footage from officers who responded to the incident has caused outrage since its release.
Mr Nowak can be heard begging the officers to call an ambulance while telling them ‘I can’t breathe’, and ‘I’ve been stabbed’ – to which one policeman told him: ‘I don’t think you have mate’.
Digwa’s lies meant Mr Nowak was arrested by police and read his rights as he lay dying on the ground. Hampshire Police has apologised for arresting the youngster.
Hampshire Police wanted to put out a statement about ‘disinformation’ during the trial of Henry Nowak’s killer – but were told that to do so could jeopardise the entire case
Vickrum Digwa repeatedly stabbed the student before lying to police that he had been racist in a disturbing case that sparked national furore
Anger erupted after police body-worn video was released showing Mr Nowak being placed in handcuffs moments before he became unconscious and subsequently died.
Eleven people have since been charged after violent clashes at protests following the sentencing.
According to The Sunday Times, it is understood the statement contained information about the process of a court case, reminded people that nothing could be published that could prejudice legal proceedings, and said that police would answer questions once the trial was complete.
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said: ‘The CPS highlighted to the police that protecting the integrity of the ongoing trial was essential, and of the risks of referring to any aspect of the evidence before it had been heard by the court and the case had been summed up by the judge to the jury.
‘However, it was made clear that whether a statement was released was ultimately a police operational decision.’
A spokeswoman for Hampshire Police said: ‘Following the opening of the trial and the media reporting that followed, a significant amount of mis- and disinformation was circulating online.
‘This included requests for information to be shared that had not been fully examined as part of the murder trial.
‘The intention of the statement was to remind the public that there were ongoing legal proceedings and that the law is clear that nothing could be published which could prejudice the trial.
‘The decision not to publish was taken following advice from the CPS.’
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating Hampshire Police’s response in Mr Nowak’s case.
Meanwhile the case has led to accusations of ‘two-tier policing’ in which ethnic minorities are treated more favourably compared to white people.
Mr Nowak’s father Mark has said the family ‘do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension’, but the police’s treatment of the student has sparked a political row.
The Prime Minister has urged politicians to heed the teenager’s relatives’ calls not to use the case ‘to cause disturbances’ while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been criticised for saying people should respond with ‘pure, cold rage’.
Writing in The Sunday Times, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused police leaders of ‘institutional incompetence’ through the training officers are given.
She said: ‘It is the police chiefs, operationally independent from government, who must take responsibility for letting that happen.
‘I believe the issue is the training [officers] are given. Well-meaning, but totally wrong-headed, lacking in common sense and, possibly illegal… The problem is not institutional racism towards blacks or whites but institutional incompetence.’
On Friday US vice president JD Vance said there should be ‘righteous anger’ in response to the murder of Mr Nowak, which he partly blamed on ‘the mass invasion of migrants’.
His extraordinary comments triggered a response from Downing Street, which criticised ‘people trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division on our streets’.
No 10 has also hit out at US tech billionaire Elon Musk, accusing him of trying to ‘whip up division’ after he said he was willing to fund a private prosecution against Hampshire Police.
The latest details surrounding the case have emerged as it was revealed last night that Mr Nowak’s killer still had a knife on him as he was being taken to a police cell.
Officers only discovered that Vickrum Digwa was wearing a kirpan, a Sikh ceremonial dagger, around his neck, when he was finally searched before being put behind bars.
A source told The Sun: ‘Either the arresting officers knew he had the kirpan on and let him keep it on after his arrest, or they missed it and it was only picked up when he was searched at the police station.
‘Either way, it is a massive blunder and could have been dangerous.’
Digwa was sentenced last week and will spend at least 21 years in prison after being jailed for life.
