Newly released police body-cam footage captures the chilling moment Vickrum Digwa, 23, lied to officers about being racially attacked by Henry Nowak, 18, while the student lay dying just metres away. Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years on June 1 for the murder of Mr Nowak in Southampton.
Digwa's false claims
In the footage, Digwa tells officers that Mr Nowak was drunk and had racially abused him, calling him a racial slur and saying he was a "bad man". Digwa claimed he pushed Mr Nowak away and that Mr Nowak grabbed his turban and punched him. However, the court heard these were "wicked lies". Mr Nowak's alcohol intake was below the drink-drive limit, and there was no evidence of racial abuse.
While Digwa was telling his lies, medics were battling to save Mr Nowak's life just metres away. Digwa appeared more concerned about the flashing blue lights from emergency vehicles, asking officers: "Can you turn the flashes off?"
Police response and apology
After the case, temporary Deputy Chief Constable Robert France of Hampshire Constabulary apologised on behalf of the officers, saying they were "lied to" and would have been unaware of Mr Nowak's injury, which he said would not have been obvious. He stated: "I want to apologise, I want to say that I am sorry that Henry couldn't be saved that night. I'm sorry that he was handcuffed and arrested in the moments before he lost consciousness."
Separately, Hampshire Constabulary confirmed that after being arrested, Digwa was not handcuffed except when being transported to and from court.
Previous footage shows officers' discovery
A longer transcript of separate footage previously released by the Crown Prosecution Service, first obtained by the BBC, showed the moment officers realised Mr Nowak had been stabbed. In body-worn camera footage, Mr Nowak can be heard repeatedly saying: "I've been stabbed," to which an officer replies: "You've been stabbed? Whereabouts? Don't think you have, mate."
The officer later says "he's saying he's been stabbed so let's just check him and see", and a female police officer calls for an ambulance, describing how Mr Nowak's pupils are not reacting. At three minutes and five seconds, an officer says: "I'm not sure he's breathing." They proceed to uncuff Mr Nowak and start CPR. After seven minutes and 33 seconds, the officer cuts his clothing and discovers a stab wound. The recording ends after eight minutes and 49 seconds.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating Hampshire Police's response in Mr Nowak's case. The jury inquest into his death next year at Winchester Coroner's Court will also look at whether any "act or omission by a police officer" caused or contributed to his death.
