Southampton, UK – Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has publicly offered to finance a wrongful death lawsuit against Hampshire Police officers involved in the death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who was fatally stabbed in Southampton on December 3, 2025.31
Musk responded to footage and details from the ongoing murder trial at Southampton Crown Court, describing the officers’ actions as “unconscionable” and calling them “disgusting excuses for law enforcement.” He stated he would cover the full costs of a lawsuit and suggested the officers “damn well better have been fired.”0
The Incident
Nowak, a first-year University of Southampton student from Chafford Hundred, Essex, studying accountancy and finance, was walking home after a night out with friends when he encountered 23-year-old Vickrum Singh Digwa in Belmont Road, Portswood.1
Court evidence indicates Nowak filmed Digwa on his phone, who was openly carrying a large shastar (a Sikh martial arts blade or kirpan) with an approximately 8-inch (21cm) blade in a sheath over his clothing. Digwa allegedly said, “I’m a bad man,” during the interaction.6
An altercation ensued, unseen by witnesses, resulting in Nowak suffering four stab wounds, including a fatal puncture to the chest and wounds to the back of his legs. Neighbors heard Nowak say he had been stabbed and was dying as he tried to escape.3
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Police Response and Bodycam Footage
When officers arrived, Digwa claimed he had been racially abused and attacked by Nowak. Bodycam footage reportedly shows officers treating the bleeding Nowak as the aggressor, handcuffing him despite his repeated pleas that he had been stabbed and could not breathe. Medical aid was delayed until he collapsed; CPR was performed, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.38
Nowak’s phone was later found in Digwa’s pocket. Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, faces charges of assisting an offender by allegedly removing the weapon from the scene and taking it to the family home.1
The Trial
Digwa denies murder and possession of a knife in public, claiming self-defense. His defense argues he acted in the “heat of the moment” after a racist attack by a drunken Nowak. The trial is ongoing, with jurors reviewing video evidence that reportedly includes no witnessed racial abuse.18
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Nowak’s family described him as a “kind, intelligent, and talented” young man with a bright future ahead.22
Public Reaction
The case has sparked widespread outrage online and in media circles, with critics pointing to perceived failures in police response and broader concerns about “two-tier policing” in the UK. Musk’s offer has amplified calls for accountability.23
Hampshire Police have not yet issued a detailed public statement on the bodycam actions or any internal review as the criminal trial continues.
This report is based on court proceedings and public statements as of May 20, 2026. The trial is expected to provide further details.
