Bodycam Footage Reveals Police Response Failures in Fatal Southampton Stabbing

A bodycam recording capturing the final moments of Henry Novak, a British student fatally stabbed in Southampton last December, has triggered significant backlash across the country after revealing police officers placed him in handcuffs while he lay dying.

The footage documents Novak repeatedly saying "I can't breathe" following his stabbing injury. Rather than providing medical assistance, one officer is heard questioning whether Novak had actually been stabbed, stating "I don't think you were stabbed, man," before the student lost consciousness shortly after.

The incident unfolded after Vikrum Digoa, 23, stabbed Novak while falsely claiming the student had directed racist remarks at him. Upon police arrival, Digoa's account was initially accepted, leading officers to treat Novak as a suspect instead of a victim requiring emergency care.

A court has now sentenced Digoa to at least 21 years in prison for the fatal stabbing. The sentencing coincided with the release of the bodycam video, which the Novak family authorized for publication.

Henry's father characterized the police conduct as "shocking," "inhuman," and "degrading," contrasting the officers' treatment of his son with their apparent willingness to believe Digoa's account.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident "horrific and shocking" and endorsed an investigation by the independent body responsible for monitoring police complaints into how officers handled the matter.

The case has drawn international scrutiny, with American entrepreneur Elon Musk announcing via his X platform that he would finance private legal action against the British police for their handling of the crime.

In related proceedings, Digoa's brother Gurpreet Digoa, 27, and father Moga Singh, 52, appeared in court facing charges of possessing offensive weapons, including a folding knife, club, cleaver, and swords. Both were released on bail pending a hearing scheduled for July.

The Digoa family issued an apology to the Novak family and the Sikh community for the crime. A ruling against Digoa's mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, who was convicted of assisting one of the perpetrators by returning the knife to the family home, is expected on July 17.