What evidence led police to handcuff the dying student?

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Police Handcuffed Dying Student Based on Aggressor's False Accusation

Body camera footage released by UK police shows that officers handcuffed the dying student, Henry Nowak, 18, after accepting the aggressor's false accusation that Nowak was the victim. The aggressor, Vickrum Digwa, had claimed Nowak racially insulted him, a lie that appears to have led the police to treat Nowak, who had been fatally stabbed, as the aggressor. Nowak repeatedly informed officers he had been stabbed and could not breathe, but the footage captures an officer questioning the severity of his injuries before applying the restraints.
Aggressor's False Claim of Racial Insult

Vickrum Digwa, who was later jailed for at least 21 years for the murder, falsely told police that Henry Nowak had racially insulted him. This accusation appears to have been the primary basis upon which the police decided to handcuff Nowak, despite his critical condition. The footage indicates the police accepted Digwa's narrative that he was the victim and Nowak was the aggressor during the incident in Southampton in December.
Student's Statements Ignored Amidst Critical Injury

Despite being mortally wounded and repeatedly stating "I can't breathe," Henry Nowak was placed in handcuffs. The body camera footage captures an exchange where an officer asks Nowak about his stab wound before expressing doubt about its severity, stating, "Don't think you have, mate." This interaction suggests that Nowak's pleas and the obvious signs of his fatal injury were not adequately considered by the responding officers.
Police Response Under Investigation

The handling of the incident by the police is currently under investigation by the independent police complaints watchdog. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned the case as "awful" and "shocking," underscoring the seriousness with which the authorities are treating the officers' response to Nowak's murder. The release of the footage has intensified scrutiny on the police's actions and decision-making processes.

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What evidence led police to handcuff the dying student?

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