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Police apologise for arresting dying teenager Henry Novak after his murderer lied about racist attack
Police have apologised for arresting a dying teenager after his murderer lied about being the victim of a racist attack. Vikram Digwa was found guilty of murdering Henry Novak after stabbing him five times. Novak was handcuffed and first aid was delayed.
Police have issued a formal apology for arresting a dying teenager after his murderer lied to officers about being the victim of a racist attack. Vikram Digwa, 23, was found guilty of murdering Henry Novak after stabbing him five times last December in a case that has raised serious questions about police procedures.
When officers arrived at the scene, Digwa told them he was the victim of a racist attack, leading police to arrest the mortally wounded Novak instead. The teenager was handcuffed, and critically, there was a delay in administering first aid. Novak died shortly afterwards from a wound to his heart.
The revelation that police arrested the actual victim while his killer walked free has prompted outrage and calls for accountability. The Crime and Policing Minister, Sarah Jones, has expressed hope that an independent investigation into the actions of the police will get to the truth of what happened.
The case highlights the dangers of officers making snap judgements based on the accounts of suspects without fully assessing the situation. Legal experts have noted that the delay in providing medical attention to Novak while he was being handcuffed may have contributed to his death, raising potential questions of liability.
Novak's family has been devastated by the circumstances of his death, not only losing him to a violent attack but learning that he was treated as a criminal in his final moments. The independent investigation is expected to examine whether different police actions could have saved his life, as reported by GB News.