Nowak jury inquest to probe actions of police

A jury inquest will be held to investigate whether police officers caused or contributed to the death of Henry Nowak.

The 18-year-old student was arrested and handcuffed after his attacker, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, failed to tell officers he had stabbed him with a 21cm (8in) blade in Southampton.

Resuming the hearing in Winchester, coroner Jason Pegg said the full circumstances surrounding the death on 3 December had not been fully scrutinised.

He said a full inquest with a jury would be held on 20 September 2027 although he hoped the date might be brought forward.

The coroner told the court: "An issue in this case is likely to be whether any act or omission by police officers… caused or contributed to the death."

Digwa was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years at Southampton Crown Court on Monday.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge William Mousley KC said the pathologist had said that "no emergency medical treatment would have permitted access to the bleeding vein".

"In simple terms, he would not have survived, however quickly he received first aid, CPR or expert medical treatment," the judge added.