The mother of Henry Nowak's killer has been sentenced to prison after helping remove the knife used to murder the 18-year-old student in an attempt to hinder the police investigation.

Kiran Kaur was jailed for three years at Southampton Crown Court after being convicted of assisting an offender by taking possession of the murder weapon and helping remove it from the scene following the fatal stabbing carried out by her son, Vickrum Digwa.

The sentence comes just weeks after Digwa was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years for murdering Henry in Southampton on 3 December 2025.

Henry, an 18-year-old first-year finance student at the University of Southampton from Chafford Hundred, Essex, had been walking home after a night out with friends when he encountered Digwa.

During the confrontation, Digwa stabbed Henry five times with a 21cm bladed weapon, including wounds to the backs of his legs and a fatal stab wound to his chest, causing catastrophic internal bleeding.

Rather than immediately admitting what had happened, prosecutors said Digwa falsely claimed he had been the victim of a racist attack and told officers Henry had assaulted him. Those claims initially led police to believe Henry was the aggressor, with the teenager being handcuffed as officers attempted to establish what had happened.

As Henry repeatedly told officers he had been stabbed and struggled to breathe, the seriousness of his injuries soon became clear. His handcuffs were removed, CPR was started and paramedics were called, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. A pathologist later concluded that the injuries were so severe that they were unsurvivable. An Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation into the police response remains ongoing.

Following the attack, the Crown Prosecution Service said Kaur deliberately removed the knife used in the killing in an effort to assist her son and obstruct detectives investigating the murder.

Kelly Newman, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

"Henry Nowak was just 18 years old when he was murdered by Vickrum Digwa and our thoughts remain with Henry's family and loved ones, who have endured unimaginable loss.

"Digwa lied to police about Henry after carrying out the senseless act of violence and in the immediate aftermath, Kiran Kaur chose to help her son by removing the murder weapon in a deliberate attempt to obstruct the investigation and hide crucial evidence.

"Those who seek to help murderers evade justice should be in no doubt that they too will be held accountable for their actions."

During Digwa's sentencing last month, Judge William Mousley KC paid tribute to Henry, describing him as "a much-loved, kind, hard-working and ambitious young man, devoted to his family and with a bright future." The judge said Henry had been the first member of his family to attend university and that his future had been stolen by a senseless act of violence.

The case has continued to attract significant public attention, particularly after body-worn footage showed Henry being handcuffed before officers realised he was the victim rather than the attacker. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has since apologised to Henry's family, while the police watchdog continues to examine the force's handling of the incident.

News of Kaur's sentence prompted mixed reactions online. While some people sympathised with the difficult position she found herself in as a parent, many argued that helping conceal evidence after a murder could never be justified.

One person commented:

“All of you saying she did what she was supposed to do as a mother are weird!! If my son stabbed and killed some I’d be the one calling the police on him. No way in hell I’m going to try cover it up for you.”

Another wrote:

“A mother’s love… I can't fault it no matter the unfortunate circumstance.”

A third added:

“A mother will do what a mother instinctively will, but a life is gone and anything surrounding that should face the adequate repercussions. Secondly, if somebody says they have been stabbed, check for wounds, he was complying and hardly resisting. Big failure by the police; he could have potentially been saved."

Although Kaur has now been sentenced for her role in the aftermath of the killing, the case continues to leave a lasting impact on Henry's family and the wider community. More than seven months on from his death, the focus remains on ensuring everyone involved is held accountable, while questions surrounding the initial police response continue to be examined.