An 18-year-old Southampton University student who was fatally stabbed in Southampton is at the centre of growing political and online controversy after claims circulated that Elon Musk could support legal action against police officers involved in the incident.
Henry Nowak died after suffering multiple stab wounds during an altercation in Southampton in December 2025. Prosecutors told Southampton Crown Court that Vickrum Digwa, 23, is accused of murdering the first-year accountancy and finance student using a large bladed weapon described in court as a Sikh martial arts knife.
According to evidence outlined during the trial, Nowak was heard telling officers he had been stabbed and was struggling to breathe after police arrived at the scene. Court reports state that Digwa told officers he had been racially abused and attacked. Prosecutors said officers initially handcuffed Nowak before beginning first aid treatment when he collapsed. He later died from his injuries.
The case has triggered fierce criticism online, with campaigners accusing authorities of mishandling the emergency response and failing to prioritise the victim’s injuries quickly enough. Social media posts widely shared this week claimed Elon Musk responded to footage and reports surrounding the case by posting on X:
“Unconscionable.
I am happy to fund a wrongful death lawsuit against these disgusting excuses for law enforcement. They damn well better have been fired.”
The statement rapidly circulated across social media platforms, fuelling calls for an independent investigation into the conduct of officers at the scene. However, no formal legal filing connected to Musk has yet been announced publicly.
A spokesperson for the Great British PAC said the organisation had been in discussions with legal representatives regarding potential action over the handling of the incident by responding officers. Sources close to the group said the matter was expected to be raised directly with Elon Musk in the coming days.
Barrister Kareesha Turner of Imperium Chambers, who is advising alongside the PAC, said:
“There should be an independent investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) into whether police negligence, misconduct, or discriminatory policing contributed to the victim being left in danger. Any failings should result in accountability through disciplinary or criminal proceedings where justified.”
Digwa remains on trial charged with murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place. His mother, Kiran Kaur, is also charged with assisting an offender after prosecutors alleged she removed a weapon from the scene. Both deny the charges.
Hampshire Police has not publicly commented on the online allegations surrounding officers’ conduct during the incident. Digwa denies murder and claims he acted in self-defence. The trial continues.
