The killer of 18-year-old Henry Nowak has seen his prison tariff increased to a minimum of 25 years after his challenge to the length of his sentence backfired at the Court of Appeal.
Vickrum Digwa was handed a life sentence in June with an initial minimum term set at 21 years after being convicted of murdering the teenager.
The court heard that Digwa knifed 18-year-old Nowak five times using a ceremonial dagger. In the immediate aftermath of the fatal stabbing, Digwa attempted to avoid criminal liability by falsely telling police officers that he had been the target of a racist attack.
Digwa subsequently sought leave to challenge his sentence at the Court of Appeal, arguing that the 21-year minimum term was excessive. The application resulted in the sentence being reviewed for undue leniency.
Delivering their judgment, the panel of Court of Appeal judges concluded that the original tariff imposed in June “did not adequately reflect the overall seriousness of the murder.”
Ruling that the original disposal was unduly lenient, the appellate judges quashed the 21-year minimum term and substituted a new mandatory minimum tariff of 25 years’ imprisonment.
Digwa must now serve at least 25 years in custody before he becomes eligible to apply to the Parole Board for consideration of release on life licence.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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