ITV will air a special documentary tonight (Thursday 5 November) following the family of murdered teenager Henry Nowak as they continue their fight for justice. Dear Henry: Our Fight for Justice, presented by ITV News UK Editor Paul Brand, will see Henry’s parents and stepmother speak about their loss, their anger over his killer’s sentence appeal and the expected early release of the woman who helped conceal the murder weapon.

Henry, an 18-year-old university student, was murdered in Southampton on 3 December 2025 after being stabbed five times by Vickrum Digwa. The 23-year-old was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years. His mother, Kiran Kaur, was also jailed for three years after being found guilty of assisting an offender by hiding the knife used in the attack.

The documentary airs as Digwa’s sentence is being challenged at the Court of Appeal on Thursday 5 November. Digwa is arguing that his sentence is too severe, while the Attorney General has also referred the case to the court, arguing that the minimum term is unduly lenient.

Henry Nowak’s Family Speak Out Over Killer’s Appeal and Early Release

Speaking to Paul Brand ahead of the hearing, Henry’s stepmother, Katie Nowak, described the family’s frustration at having to face another legal process, saying: “It just doesn’t feel fair to us at all. It’s another process that we’ve got to go through. It’s another fight that we have to have.”

The family have also criticised the expected early release of Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, who could leave prison in December under the government’s early release scheme. The timing is especially painful for Henry’s loved ones, as it falls around the first anniversary of his murder. Henry’s father, Mark Nowak, told ITV News: “She’ll be out for Christmas, and I won’t have Christmas with Henry.”

His mother, Lucy Ross, also spoke about the devastating difference between Kaur being able to visit her son in prison and her own reality, saying: “She’s lucky enough that she could go and see her boy. I have to go to Henry’s grave to see Henry.”

The family are calling for greater consideration to be given to victims and their loved ones when decisions about sentencing and early release are made. Dear Henry: Our Fight for Justice will explore the family’s experience following Henry’s murder, the questions surrounding the handling of the case and their continued efforts to seek accountability.

For CultureCues, this is such a heartbreaking case, and hearing Henry’s family speak about what they’ve been through is difficult. They’ve already suffered an unimaginable loss, and now they’re facing another court hearing alongside the news of Kaur’s expected early release. Tonight’s documentary gives the family an opportunity to share Henry’s story in their own words and raise important questions about how victims’ families are supported throughout the justice process.

Dear Henry: Our Fight for Justice airs tonight, Thursday 5 November 2026, at 9pm on ITV1, STV and ITVX, and will also be available through ITV News YouTube.