UK murder case of Henry Novak sparks public outrage

The murder of 18-year-old student Henry Novak has sparked significant public outrage across the United Kingdom.

According to Operative Information Center-OMM, police released footage capturing the final moments of the young man, who was fatally stabbed in December 2025, on the day the verdict was announced.

Reports indicate that upon arriving at the scene, police officers initially engaged with the perpetrator, who had falsely presented himself as the victim of an attack, before approaching the severely wounded Henry Novak lying on the ground. The footage shows the young man being handcuffed while in a critical condition.

It is reported that despite Novak repeatedly pleading, "I can't breathe" and "I've been stabbed," one of the responding officers dismissed his claims, responding, "I don't think you've been stabbed, mate."

The investigation revealed that the perpetrator, 23-year-old Vikram Digva, had misled police by claiming he was the victim of a racially motivated attack. Consequently, law enforcement initially detained the wounded Novak rather than the true assailant.

Forensic analysis confirmed that Henry Novak suffered five stab wounds, one of which pierced his heart and proved fatal. The assailant used a 21-centimeter dagger, which he carried in accordance with Sikh religious traditions.

The court found Vikram Digva guilty of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years before he is eligible for parole. This case has reignited national debates regarding police conduct and the handling of emergency calls in the United Kingdom.