Vickrum Digwa Appeals Life Sentence for Murder of Henry Nowak

Vickrum Digwa, who was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Henry Nowak, is appealing his sentence, BBC News reported. According to the BBC, Nowak's family has described the appeal as "ludicrous".

The Guardian reported that Digwa, 23, was jailed in June for life, with a minimum term, and that the court of appeal has been told he should have received a longer sentence. According to the Guardian, the court was told this was because of accusations of racism that were described as false, made against his victim, and because of his abuse of a religious right to carry a knife.

The Guardian also reported that Digwa is challenging the length of his jail term, and that his KC described the sentence as "manifestly excessive". The Guardian's report places both positions within the same appeal proceedings.

The two accounts differ in emphasis. BBC News describes the matter as an appeal by Digwa against his sentence, while the Guardian's report centres on the argument that the sentence should have been longer. Neither report, as summarised here, states how the court has ruled or when a decision is expected.

The available reports also do not explain in detail how the knife-related argument and the challenge to the length of the term fit together. Neither source provides further information on the arguments presented to the court.

Sources: BBC News: Henry Nowak's killer's appeal 'ludicrous', says family; The Guardian: Henry Nowak’s killer should have had longer sentence, court of appeal hears.