Mother of British Sikh man who killed teenager in England jailed for hiding murder weapon

“Digwa lied to police about Henry after carrying out the senseless act of violence, and in the immediate aftermath, Kiran Kaur chose to help her son by removing the murder weapon in a deliberate attempt to obstruct the investigation and hide crucial evidence,” Newman said.

“Those who seek to help murderers evade justice should be in no doubt that they too will be held accountable for their actions,” she added.

Digwa, 23, stabbed Henry Nowak, 18, to death in Southampton on December 3, 2025. Last month, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years before becoming eligible for parole.

Judge rejects mother’s actions, says she should have done ‘the right thing’

While sentencing Kaur, Justice William Mousley said a responsible parent would have encouraged her son to face the consequences of his actions instead of helping conceal evidence.

“A responsible parent would have challenged their son over their actions and encouraged them to do the right thing. Instead, you took the knife home and put it with a larger collection of ceremonial and other weapons in your son’s bedroom,” the judge said.

BREAKING: The mother of Vikrum Digwa, who was jailed for life for stabbing student Henry Nowak, has been jailed for three years after removing the knife from the scene.

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Kirpan defence rejected by court

The case drew widespread attention after Digwa argued during his trial that the weapon used was a kirpan—a ceremonial blade that initiated Sikhs are legally permitted to carry in the UK as an article of faith.

Rejecting any religious justification, Justice Mousley said Sikhism does not permit a kirpan to be carried or used for offensive purposes.

“It is a fundamental principle of Sikhism that any kirpan is worn as a symbol of religious faith and is never to be carried for an offensive purpose,” the judge said.

The verdict prompted British Sikh organisations and several parliamentarians to condemn what they described as the misrepresentation of the kirpan, stressing that no religious protection or justification applied in the case.

Appeal and related proceedings continue

Legal proceedings against Digwa’s father, Moga Singh, and older brother, Gurpreet, who are accused of aiding and abetting the offence, remain ongoing. Separately, Digwa’s minimum 21-year prison term is under review by the Court of Appeal under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.