Kiran Kaur, 53, is being sentenced for removing a knife from the scene of Henry Nowak's murder in Southampton
She was found guilty at Southampton Crown Court in May of assisting an offender
Her role was "crucial in removing the murder weapon from the scene", the prosecution tells the court, while her lawyers say she acted out of an "instinctive desire to protect her child"
Kaur's son, Vickrum Digwa, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of the 18-year-old student
After fatally stabbing Nowak, who was from Essex, Digwa falsely claimed to police that he had been the victim of a racist attack
Police bodycam footage was later released showing Nowak being arrested despite suffering several stab wounds
Before exiting the courtroom, Judge William Mousley KC made clear that Kaur removed the murder weapon from the scene, but did not make an attempt to "hide" the item.
Prosecuting barrister Nicholas Lobbenberg told the court that the weapon was not found by police until 10 December 2025 - seven days after the attack took place.
Judge William Mousley KC announces that he intends to pass sentence at 14:45 BST, before rising and leaving the courtroom.
Defence barrister Watson says Kaur's "character is not defined by this act, however her life will be" and asks the judge to consider a suspended sentence.
Her crime does "not demand" immediate imprisonment, Watson says.
She had shown "previous good character" and represents an "incredibly low risk of re-offending", he says.
Defence barrister Mark Watson says the "consequences don't stop" after a "tragedy" like this, and Kaur understands the "pain" it has caused.
She was "equally misled" by Digwa, Watson says.
He calls her actions on the night of the murder "a spontaneous act carried out in a matter of moments".
She had not attempted to destroy the weapon and had acted out of an "instinctive desire to protect her child", he adds.
Prosecutor Nicholas Lobbenberg begins by describing Kaur's actions as "criminality of the highest order".
He says: "Her role was crucial in removing the murder weapon from the scene."
The absence of the weapon led to Henry dying "terrified" and "alone", the barrister continues.
At Digwa’s sentencing in June, Judge Mousley said: "You abused the privilege extended to Sikhs to have a knife in a public place for religious reasons, dishonoured your religion and have now put others at risk of repercussions."
Digwa is seeking to appeal against his conviction and sentence, while the Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves, has referred his sentence to the Court of Appeal to be reviewed under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
Judge William Mousley KC enters the court.
Kiran Kaur is wearing green, traditional Sikh dress, with a long green headscarf.
She sits in the dock - an enclosed glass-fronted room within the court alongside a translator.
Prosecuting barrister Nicholas Lobbenberg KC addresses the court first, while defence barrister Mark Watson and the rest of the courtroom listen
Curtis Lancaster
at Southampton Crown Court
It’s a full courtroom for the sentencing of Kiran Kaur at Southampton Crown Court, that is due to start shortly.
Members of Henry Nowak's and Digwa's families are here, as well as their friends.
Journalists from national and local media are packed into the court room, as well as barristers, solicitors and legal staff.
Image source, Crown Prosecution ServiceThe knife that was used to kill Henry, and taken from the scene by Kaur, was a 21cm (8in) blade that Digwa carried in a cross-body sheath over his clothing. He said he carried it in keeping with the traditions of the Nihang warrior sect within Sikhism, of which he is a member.
He said he carried the blade because of his Sikh faith but the religious relevance of the item is dismissed by the Sikh community.
Many Sikhs dispute descriptions of the murder weapon as a"kirpan", saying a kirpan is a small ceremonial blade worn as an article of faith that symbolises a commitment to justice and protecting others.
Image source, Police HandoutHenry Nowak was killed by Vickrum Digwa in December last year.
Digwa was jailed for life, with a minimum of 21 years, for the murder of the 18-year-old Southampton university student after stabbing him multiple times.
In video from the night, Digwa was heard consistently lying to police as Henry lay dying. Digwa claimed he had been racially attacked, so initially officers failed to believe Henry's insistent pleas that he had "been stabbed".
It took officers eight minutes to discover the wound that killed him.
In the aftermath, there was intense public criticism of police actions in the case.
Image source, Police handoutKiran Kaur, 53, is being sentenced at Southampton Crown Court this afternoon after she removed the knife used by her son Vickrum Digwa to kill university student Henry Nowak on 3 December 2025 from the scene of the crime.
Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of the 18-year-old.
Kaur will be sentenced for assisting an offender after she took the weapon back to the nearby family home.
We're expecting the hearing to get underway at about 14:00 BST.
