Three more charged after Southampton protests over Henry Nowak murder

Connor Bishop, 24, Reece Robinson, 21, and Noah Etherington, 18, charged with violent disorder after sentencing of Vickrum Digwa

Three more people have been charged with violent disorder after protests in Southampton earlier this week over the murder of Henry Nowak.

Connor Bishop, 24, of Southampton; Reece Robinson, 21, of Havant; and Noah Etherington, 18, of Havant, were to appear at Southampton magistrates court on Friday morning, Hampshire police said.

Protests were held after the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa, 23, to life imprisonment with a minimum of 21 years for the murder of Nowak, 18, in December. Anger erupted after police body-worn video footage was released showing Nowak being placed in handcuffs moments before he became unconscious and subsequently died from stab wounds.

The treatment of the student from Essex triggered a political row, with the prime minister urging politicians to heed the teenager’s relatives’ calls not to use the case “to cause disturbances”.

Violent protests erupted near where the student was fatally stabbed. Digwa had told police he had been the victim of a racial attack, and Nowak was handcuffed by police, who ignored his pleas that he could not breathe.

Starmer met Nowak’s family on Thursday, saying he was “profoundly humbled” to have had a private conversation with them in Downing Street.

He urged the nation to choose unity over hatred, adding that Nowak “deserves a legacy that goes beyond this awful tragedy”.

On Thursday, Starmer said Nigel Farage’s response – that Nowak’s murder should be met with “rage” – was unforgivable, and the Reform leader was accused by other politicians of stoking racial tensions.

Farage hit back at the criticism, insisting he condemned “all violence” and had agreed to meet Nowak’s family.