LONDON: British police faced a national backlash on Tuesday (Jun 2) over the inflammatory case of an 18-year-old student who was handcuffed as he lay dying from stab wounds after his killer falsely alleged a racist attack.
Henry Nowak died after the knife attack in the southern England city of Southampton in December last year.
His murderer Vickrum Digwa, a 23-year-old Sikh man, was sentenced to life in prison on Monday, having lied to police at the time that Nowak had assaulted him.
In police bodycam footage, Nowak is seen lying on the street saying “I’ve been stabbed” and “I can’t breathe” while an officer responds “I don’t think you have mate”.
Nigel Farage, whose anti-immigration Reform party leads opinion polls, said it was an example of the rights of ethnic minorities trumping those of white British people.
“The fear of being called racist was greater than dealing with Henry Nowak’s murder,” he said in a statement.
“We should respond to this with pure cold rage.”
Judge William Mousley acknowledged in court on Monday that the case had stirred racial tension across Britain.
A protest was expected in Southampton on Tuesday evening, with anti-immigrant activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – known as Tommy Robinson – rallying supporters to attend.
Others have been advertised for this week.
Digwa stabbed Nowak with a knife he said he was permitted to carry due to exemptions for Sikhs to have ceremonial daggers.
When the police arrived, Digwa said his turban had been knocked off and he had an injury to his eye.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, Cabinet Office minister, told BBC Radio that “the conduct of the police when you look at it at the scene is shocking”.