A Southampton man has been jailed for life after he was found guilty of murdering a student with a knife he described as connected to his religious beliefs. The victim was a young university student who died following a street attack.
The defendant, Henry Nowak, was convicted of murder after a trial examined his actions and motives. Prosecutions told the court that Nowak used a knife during the attack and later made statements linking the weapon to his faith. Witnesses heard him refer to the knife in religious terms after the incident. The jury found those accounts credible and concluded that Nowak intended to kill.
The killing took place in the early hours of the morning in central Southampton. Emergency services were called to the scene after the crew treated them at the scene before they were taken to the hospital. The student later died from their injuries. The exact age of the victim was given in court as being in their early twenties. Family members described them as a bright and promising young person.
Police launched an immediate investigation and arrested Nwak nearby. Officers recovered the knife used in the attack. Detectives explored whether the stabbing was an isolated act or part of a wider threat. They confirmed there was no evidence of a wider organised plot and treated the case as an individual offence. Investigators spoke to multiple witnesses, reviewed CCTV, and gathered forensic evidence.
At trial, the prosecution said the weapon had been described by Nowak in terms that suggested a religious motivation. The defence did not seek to deny that Nowak had wielded the knife but argued that his state of mind and background required careful consideration. Jurors were asked to weigh testimony from expert witnesses, mental health reports, and witness statements. After hearing the evidence, the jury convicted Nowak of murder.
Sentencing took place at a Crown Court, where the judge imposed a life term. The judge said the killing was a grave and senseless act that had caused deep harm to the victim’s family and to the wider community. Under UK sentencing rules, Nowak will serve a minimum term before being eligible to apply for parole. The minimum term reflects the seriousness of the offence and the factors presented in court.
Police and court officials stressed that the case remains under review to ensure all relevant lines of inquiry are fully explored. Community leaders in Southampton expressed shock at the violence and offered support to the family of the victim. University officials said they would continue to work with police to ensure student safety.