Timings on the transcript indicate it takes police officers eight minutes to discover the fatal stab wound in Henry’s chest after arriving on scene.
Efforts to save Henry’s life continued for another 51 minutes, until an emergency doctor who had been flown in by helicopter eventually recorded the 18-year-old’s time of death as 00:37 on 4 December, 2025.
Before sentencing Digwa, Judge William Mousley KC said: “The genuine shock to the particular police officer, when he realised that he had been giving CPR to Henry when he had a serious chest wound tends to show that he was doing his best in a very difficult situation”.
He also acknowledged that the attending police officers had been given a “convincing but wholly false narrative” of the incident and added that “sometimes, someone arrested and handcuffed will feign injury” in the hope of being released.
Evidence was heard during Digwa’s trial about the severity of the chest wound which killed Henry.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said the pathologist who spoke in court was clear “there was nothing officers could have done that day to save Henry” as his fatal wound had caused “extensive” internal bleeding.
The force has apologised to Henry Nowak’s family for the way he was treated at the scene.
Referring to officer’s bodycam footage, Chief Constable Alexis Boon said: “What was filmed there is a tragedy, an absolute tragedy. You can’t help but be affected by it. It’s very difficult to watch. I really feel for the family.”
