Sikh man convicted of murdering 18-year-old UK student after ‘self-defence’ kirpan claim rejected

A Sikh man has been convicted of murdering an 18-year-old university student who was stabbed to death while walking home from a night out in Southampton, UK.Vickrum Digwa, 23, was found guilty at Southampton Crown Court of killing Henry Nowak on December 3 using a 21cm ceremonial blade, BBC reported.Digwa denied murder during the trial, claiming he acted in self-defence after an altercation escalated on Belmont Road shortly before 11.30pm.The court heard the confrontation began after the pair brushed past each other on a pavement while Nowak was returning to his accommodation following a night out.Digwa told jurors the teenager appeared intoxicated and later became aggressive during the exchange. He alleged Nowak used a racial slur, punched him and pulled off his turban during the struggle.The defendant also claimed he feared Nowak would use the kirpan against him after grabbing at the blade, which was worn in a sheath around his neck.Jurors rejected the defence and found Digwa guilty of murder. He was also convicted of carrying a knife in public.The trial heard Nowak suffered multiple stab wounds and attempted to flee after the attack by climbing over a fence before collapsing.Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, was also found guilty of assisting an offender after prosecutors said she removed the weapon from the scene.Emotional scenes unfolded in court as the verdicts were delivered. Members of the public gallery were heard sobbing, while Nowak’s parents embraced as they left the courtroom.Judge William Mousley described the case as “particularly difficult” and thanked jurors for their “essential service”.