Henry Nowak’s godmother, Kelly Hatchard, paid tribute to the tragic university student, whose killer Vickrum Digwa was sentenced to life in prison earlier this week
Henry Nowak’s godmother has warned “this has to stop” and vowed to “fight until the end” for his legacy.
Kelly Hatchard, 46, who is best pals with Henry’s mum Lucy, has been left heartbroken by the 18-year-old university student’s death, which came after he pleaded with police, who handcuffed him as he lay dying from stab wounds.
Making a touching and heartfelt tribute, she said: “Henry deserved so much more from this life. Henry and his family have been let down so badly. This could happen to anyone, anyone’s child. Henry we will fight until the end for you. The world will know your name.
“You changed our lives for the better for being a part of it, I believe you will now go on to change the lives of others by the legacy you will leave.” Kelly added: “Henry had a way of making people smile without even trying. He had so much life ahead of him, so many plans, and so much love to give.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer held private talks with the teenager’s mother Lucy, father Mark and stepmother Katie Woodcock at No10 Downing Street on Thursday, following a public outcry over harrowing bodycam footage of Henry’s last moments. The video revealed officers at the scene did not believe the student when he said he had been stabbed by his killer Vickrum Digwa, 23.
Recalling the moment she found out about Henry’s death in December last year, Kelly said: “When the news broke, life as we knew it stopped. My focus in what I want to say will always be Henry and Henry’s family. But, nothing I could ever say would come close to explaining the pain of losing Henry.
“Alongside the heartbreak of losing Henry has been the pain of watching one of the kindest families I have ever known have their entire world torn apart. My heart is broken for them, a very large part of them died on the day that monster chose to rip Henry from their lives.
“Yet even through their darkest days they continued to be the wonderful people that they are. Their focus during these dark times was to shine a light on and raise money for the charity that has helped them.”
Killer Digwa lied to officers at the scene of Henry’s stabbing, claiming he was the victim of a racist attack and has shown no remorse for his actions. Writing in a heartbreaking post on Facebook, Kelly said: “Six months after Henry’s death, the heart ache continued as they had to face the trial.
“Being subjected to sit in a room with the monster who brutally murdered their son and watch the lies spill so easily from his mouth. A man who has not once showed an an ounce of remorse for what he did. They endured a living nightmare.
“Thinking that things could not possibly get worse, in the last few weeks they have learned that the very institution that is there to protect us not only ignored Henry’s plea for help, but they sided with the monster who put him on the ground. Henry’s family learned that his last moments were not only spent so afraid of the monster who attacked him but he was then wronged and let down by the police officer who I have no doubt, Henry assumed was there to help him.
“That police officer handcuffed Henry and read him his rights. The last thing my best friend’s beautiful boy heard before we lost him forever. This image, we will never ever be able to erase from our minds. Family, friends and now the world, will have seen that image and we all have to live with it forever.
“Shame on the monster who took you, shame on the police officer who should have helped you and shame on the organisation that trained the police officer to side with an incorrect racist slur over a dying young man. Shame on you all! You treated a loving caring intelligent hardworking young man, with such disregard and disrespect. You treated Henry’s family, such good people, with such dishonesty! The lies have been inforgivable!! HOW DARE YOU.”
One officer involved in the incident has since resigned, Hampshire Police has said, while two others are not carrying out frontline duties. Anger led to violent clashes in Southampton on Tuesday evening, which saw 11 police officers and a police dog injured.
Speaking on Thursday, the Prime Minister said choosing “unity and progress over division and hatred” is the only way to honour Henry’s legacy, adding that he was determined lessons would be learned from the case.
Mr Starmer said: “I was profoundly humbled to meet Henry Nowak’s family, Mark, Lucy and Katie, in Downing Street and to see their dignity and strength in the face of unimaginable pain. I was moved to learn more about Henry– his kindness, his warmth and his love of football – and am grateful to his family.
“There is no doubt he had a bright future ahead of him, a future cruelly stolen from him in appalling circumstances. Henry deserves a legacy that goes beyond this awful tragedy, and I am committed to making that happen. I am determined that we do everything in our power to prevent other families from suffering such a devastating loss.”
The PM added: “Difficult questions must be answered about the way police handled Henry’s murder. We will be unflinching in taking whatever action isrequired to right the wrongs in this case. It is our duty to ensure lessons are learned, justice is delivered and that we choose unity and progress over division and hatred. This is the only way to honour his memory.”
