‘I’m a fool’ killer’s chilling confession after stabbing student - as Elon Musk erupts

'I'm a fool.' Those were the words a man convicted of murdering Southampton student Henry Nowak was heard saying after the fatal stabbing, with the shocking tragedy later sparking a fierce online backlash.

Elon Musk weighed in, calling police “disgusting excuses for law enforcement” and saying officers “damn well better have been fired” - in a case that saw the stabbed victim arrested and handcuffed after officers were informed he was the perpetrator of a racist attack against the man who was convicted today of his murder.

Jurors heard that Vickrum Digwa, 23, stabbed the 18-year-old five times, including two wounds to his back as he tried to flee, in an attack that left him fatally injured at the scene and which left the British public horrified.

One of the blows pierced his chest and lung, severing a major vein and causing fatal internal bleeding.

Southampton Crown Court was told the violence unfolded after Digwa produced an 8in-long knife during an altercation.

Mr Nowak suffered five stab wounds in total, with forensic evidence showing two strikes were delivered as he attempted to run away.

A further wound penetrated his chest and lung, leaving him fatally injured at the scene.

Jurors heard that instead of immediately seeking medical help, Digwa attempted to distance himself from what had happened.

He tried to dispose of the knife, which he would later claim he was entitled to carry as a Sikh for religious reasons.

He then gave an account to police that prosecutors said falsely portrayed Mr Nowak as a drunken aggressor in what Digwa described as a racist attack — a version he allegedly treated as a “trump card”.

In a 999 call, officers were given Digwa’s version of events.

Crucially, they were not told that Mr Nowak had been stabbed.

At the time, Mr Nowak — who had drunk less than the drink-drive limit — was lying injured, telling officers he had been stabbed and could not breathe.

However, Digwa and members of his family, who had gathered at the scene, allegedly said the student was “pretending” and should stand up.

Mr Nowak was initially arrested on suspicion of assault and handcuffed before the severity of his injuries became clear.

The arrest led to a delay in recognising the extent of Mr Nowak’s wounds.

An ambulance was only called later, by which point attempts to save his life were unsuccessful.

Digwa was subsequently arrested and charged with murder.

He was covertly recorded in a police van telling his brother he had stabbed Mr Nowak three times, reports the Daily Mail.

During the exchange, his brother reportedly said: “You should say it was self-defence.”

Digwa is understood to have replied: “It was my fault, or mistake.”

He also told him, according to the report: “I am a fool, an idiot.”

After deliberating for six hours, jurors at Southampton Crown Court found Digwa guilty of murder and possession of a bladed article.

Following the verdict, forensic pathologist Dr Amanda Jeffery told the court that Mr Nowak’s handcuffing had no impact on his death.

She said the wound was in a “difficult area to find” and officers would not have been able to intervene effectively.

Hampshire Police confirmed the case was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct the day after the incident, with an ongoing investigation into the use of handcuffs and first aid provided.

Responding to online discussion of the case, Elon Musk criticised the police response and said he would support legal action.

He described the officers involved as “disgusting excuses for law enforcement” and said they “damn well better have been fired”.

Musk also compared the lack of attention given to the case with the death of George Floyd in the United States, arguing there were double standards in media and public reaction.

Deputy Chief Constable Robert France apologised following the verdict, saying officers had been misled during the initial response.

He said: “I'm sorry that Henry's life couldn't be saved that night, and I'm sorry that he was handcuffed and arrested. He was the victim.”

He added that officers had been responding to reports of a racist assault and were given inaccurate information at the scene.

He told the Daily Mail: “There were lies told in the phone call, on the scene and as the incident played out.”

Judge William Mousley KC informed Digwa he could expect to be sentenced on Monday.