An inquest into the death of murdered student Henry Nowak will look at whether any “act or omission by a police officer” or delay in treatment caused or contributed to his death.
Police officers in Southampton in December handcuffed the teenager after he had been attacked by Vickrum Digwa, who was later jailed for life. Digwa lied, claiming he had been racially abused by the 18-year-old.
But as Mr Nowak lay dying and said he had been stabbed, one officer replied: “Don’t think you have, mate”. Hampshire Constabulary has been sharply criticised for its response to the incident and chief constable Alexis Boon described the incident as an “absolute tragedy”.
Area coroner Jason Pegg said Mr Nowak’s medical cause of death was given in a post-mortem examination as “a stab wound to chest”.
Mr Pegg said: “When Henry Nowak died, he had been arrested – he was in custody of the state.
“What that means is article two, or the right to life, the investigative duty has been triggered.
“The scope of any inquest where article two is engaged is not simply how someone came by their death, but also in what broader circumstances.
“I am not satisfied that the investigations that have taken place to date in relation to the death of Henry Nowak have fully discharged the investigative article two obligation.
“Indeed, those other investigations were not and are not necessarily intended to discharge such obligations.”
Mr Pegg added: “The issue in this case is likely to be whether any act or omission by a police officer or any delay in the treatment Henry Nowak received caused or contributed to death.
“An inquest will allow such scrutiny, it will be a public hearing on the broad circumstances by which Henry came by his death.
“Having an inquest will allow Henry’s family to effectively participate in those proceedings.”
The full inquest into the death of Henry Nowak will open with a jury at Winchester Coroner’s Court on 20 September 2027.
Before adjourning the inquest to that date, area coroner Jason Pegg said: “After having carefully considered all of the relevant matters before me, I do direct that the inquest touching the death of Henry Nowak be resumed.
“And I say that being satisfied that there are sufficient reasons including to allow public and family scrutiny of all the circumstances by which Henry came by his death and to meet obligations under article two.
“I will hear the inquest sitting with a jury in due course.
“I am going to adjourn the inquest to 20 September 2027.
“I recognise that date is some time away. It might be that the inquest is brought forward and I hope that it is.”
