Southampton Protests: Two More Charged with Violent Disorder Over Henry Nowak Murder
Two individuals have been charged with violent disorder following protests in Southampton related to the murder of student Henry Nowak. Thomas Thacker, 35, of Southampton, and Amanda McCartney, 52, of Fratton, Portsmouth, are scheduled to appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
The demonstrations on 2 June occurred after police bodycam footage became public, showing 18-year-old Nowak handcuffed and dying after being stabbed by Vickrum Digwa. Digwa, 23, received a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years on 1 June for Nowak's murder. The Solicitor General has referred Digwa's sentence to the Court of Appeal, citing the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed that 25 people have now been charged in connection with the investigation. Several individuals have already been imprisoned for their involvement in the disorder, which resulted in injuries to twelve police officers and a police dog.
The protests initially formed outside the city centre police station before moving near the Digwa family residence. Digwa fatally stabbed Nowak with a large blade in December 2025, claiming he carried the weapon due to his Sikh faith. He then provided false information to police at the scene, alleging he was the victim of a racist attack, which led officers to mistakenly arrest Nowak instead of his assailant. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has since initiated an investigation into the force's handling of the incident.
