The ‘weapons-obsessed’ killer of Henry Nowak was seen brandishing a gun in his back garden three years before the murder, new footage has revealed.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, is filmed as he brandishes the weapon, believed to be an air pistol, alongside a second man who also appeared to be holding an air rifle.
The footage, filmed in Southampton near the scene of Mr Nowak’s murder, was taken by a neighbour after they were startled by the sound of ‘loud gunshots’ on October 18, 2022.
It was just over three years before Digwa would go on to stab Mr Nowak, 18, to death as the student was on his way home from a night out in December 2025.
He stabbed him six times with a large ceremonial dagger, then lied to police at the scene that Mr Nowak 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.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, is filmed as he brandishes the weapon, believed to be an air pistol, around three years before he murdered Henry Nowak
The footage, filmed in Southampton near the scene of Mr Nowak’s murder, was taken by a neighbour after they were startled by the sound of ‘loud gunshots’ on October 18, 2022
Henry Nowak, 18, was handcuffed as he lay dying on the pavement despite telling arresting officers ‘I can’t breathe’
Since Digwa was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years this week, questions about the killer’s obsession with weapons have emerged as the Sikh community turned their backs on the family.
In court, Nicholas Lobbenberg KC said Digwa was ‘skilled with weapons, trained with weapons, sleeps with weapons, searches for weapons on his phone.’
Digwa and his family are Nihang Sikhs – a martial sect that prides itself on being skilled in the use of swords, knives and other weapons – but they are only ever supposed to be used defensively.
And this new footage suggests it wasn’t just ceremonial weapons Digwa was preoccupied with.
The former neighbour of the family went to inspect what was going on after hearing gunshots, and then filmed Digwa and another man holding guns in their back garden.
The neighbour said: ‘We could hear gunshots, we went to look and saw them shooting guns at a wooden board.
‘We filed a report to the police, but they told us they couldn’t do anything as there had been no reports from other residents.
‘We would hear a lot of shouting and arguing sometimes, but overall, they were quiet neighbours.
Vickrum Digwa repeatedly stabbed the student before lying to police that he had been racist in a disturbing case that sparked national furore
Digwa’s mother Kiran Kaur was found guilty of assisting an offender by removing a weapon from the scene of the murder of Henry Nowak
Digwa’s brother Gurpreet (left) and their father Moga Singh (right) face charges of possession of offensive weapons
‘I didn’t see him come and go often, but I would see him in the garden a lot.’
Hampshire Police were unable to find a report of the incident but did discover an air pistol at the property where Digwa lived with his family in a search following Henry’s murder.
Some air weapons can be legally owned in the UK, but more powerful ones require a licence from police.
Digwa’s older brother Gurpreet, 27, and the boys’ father Mogha Singh, 52, have been charged with weapons offences over an arsenal said to be discovered at the family home following Mr Nowak’s death.
Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, is due to be sentenced on July 17 for assisting an offender after she took away and tried to hide the murder weapon.
