Henry Nowak's parents say police misled them after teen's death

The parents of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student who died in Southampton in December 2025, have stated that police provided them with conflicting accounts of the events leading to his death. Mark Nowak, Henry's father, said the family was told the teenager had been the aggressor in the initial report. He added that officers claimed to have administered immediate first aid, a detail that later changed. The family described a process in which the official narrative shifted repeatedly during their interactions with investigators.

Mark Nowak detailed the changing versions of events in an interview with ITV News. He recalled officers first saying they administered first aid upon arrival. The statement then changed to say officers detained everyone present. Later, police specified that only Henry was detained, followed by reports that he was handcuffed, and finally that he was placed under arrest. The father said this evolution of facts shocked the family and led them to believe they were being hoodwinked.

Katie Nowak, Henry's stepmother, expressed fear that the family was manipulated during a difficult time. She stated that she believes some decisions were made to protect the reputation of the police force rather than to support the family. She described the experience as a series of failures that compounded their grief. The Nowak family is seeking clarity on why the official story changed so often in the weeks following the incident.

Henry Nowak was stabbed by Vickrum Digwa as he walked home from a night out in Southampton in December 2025. Bodyworn camera footage shows Nowak telling officers he had been stabbed while they restrained him. An officer in the video is heard replying, "Don't think you have, mate," as Nowak continued to plead for help. Digwa, who falsely accused Nowak of racial abuse, was later jailed for life for the murder.

Lucy Ross, Henry's mother, questioned the police response in the same interview with ITV News. She noted that Henry told officers nine times that he could not breathe and that he had been stabbed. She asked why he was dismissed and treated poorly in his final moments. Ross said that losing a child was difficult enough, but knowing he was treated that way made the loss harder to bear. She described her son as a young boy who needed help that did not come.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is currently investigating the case. In April 2026, the watchdog initially told the family that no Hampshire police officers would face a conduct or criminal investigation. The IOPC stated that no concerns were identified regarding officer actions at that time. Less than two months after that statement, Hampshire and Isle of Wight constabulary issued an apology for its actions in the case. The shift in position prompted further scrutiny of the initial investigation.

Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, has launched a separate review to examine whether opportunities were missed to prevent the murder. The review will look at the broader context of the police response. Derrick Campbell, the director of engagement at the IOPC, said the watchdog is committed to establishing the full circumstances of the case. Campbell added that the IOPC is determining whether any officers involved should face disciplinary proceedings. The family is waiting for answers on how the police treated Henry on the night of his death.

Alexis Boon, the chief constable of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, apologized to the family for the police failure in Henry's final moments. He acknowledged that the family has raised serious concerns about the police response throughout the investigation. Boon stated that no family should find themselves in this position. He recognized that the incident was about more than just the circumstances of that single night in Southampton.