Henry Nowak’s family speak for first time in detail of murder and relive police knocking at the door at 1am

Henry Nowak’s family speak for first time in detail of murder and relive police knocking at the door at 1am Murdered Henry Nowak's mum, Lucy Ross, tells a new documentary of the police at their door: "No words can explain that feeling." His dad Mark "let out a scream that I will never forget" Henry Nowak’s family have spoken for the first time about the moment they learned that the 18-year-old student had been murdered. His mum, Lucy Ross, 47, broke down as she recalled: "We got that dreaded knock on the door at one o'clock in the morning. The dog started barking. Olivia, [Henry’s sister] shouts at me" ‘Mum, there's police at the door’. "They said to me: ‘Do you have a son called Henry? There's been an altercation, and unfortunately, your son has passed away.’ "No words, no words can explain that feeling." Lucy, Olivia, Henry's dad Mark, 52, and stepmother Katie Woodcock have spoken for a ITV documentary, 'Dear Henry: Our Fight for Justice'. Henry, from Chafford Hundred in Essex, was murdered in Southampton, where he had been studying at university. Following a night out with friends from his football team, Henry was stabbed five times while walking home on December 3 last year. The killer, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, subsequently lied to police that he had been racially attacked by Henry. Henry’s agony was captured on police body worn cameras, as officers initially overlooked his injuries as they arrived at the scene. As Henry pleaded that he had been stabbed and could not breathe, officers handcuffed and arrested him while he lay on the floor for eight minutes. Henry died shortly afterwards. “Our world has changed twice,” Katie said. “The first time was the night that we were told that Henry had died. And the second time was when we watched that video.” Police officers arrived at the home of Mark and Katie at the same time as breaking the news to Lucy and Olivia. Katie said that hearing of Henry's death for the first time was “everything you can imagine and worse” and remembered Mark falling to his knees. “He let out a cry that I'll never forget,” she said. Mark added: “It was just shock. I just remember saying ‘it's Henry’ and breaking down in tears. It’s just unbelievable pain.” As soon as police told her what had happened, Olivia texted the family WhatsApp group to see if her dad and stepmother had heard yet. She added: “My dad called me and I answered the phone. And I just remember this scream. It was awful. He screamed ‘My boy, My boy’. And I heard my little brother in the background cry because he'd woken up from the noise and it was just horrific.” In the year that followed, the family’s pain would reach even darker depths as they learnt the truth about Henry’s treatment on the night he died. The harrowing police bodycam footage sparked an outcry when it was released after Digwa was found guilty, and jailed for life with a minimum 21-year tariff. Despite repeatedly telling officers he had been stabbed, one of them said: "I don't think you have, mate." Two officers are being investigated for potential gross misconduct. A court heard Henry had suffered significant internal bleeding from a chest wound which had been difficult to find, and was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Rather than calling an ambulance or police immediately though, Digwa filmed Henry as he sat on the floor. His mother then came and removed the knife he had used from the scene. Jurors convicted Digwa of murder and possession of bladed article in a public place. Digwa's mother Kiran Kaur, 53, also of Southampton, was found guilty of assisting an offender. Judge William Mousley KC told him: "Henry was a much loved, kind, hard-working and ambitious young man, devoted to his family and with a bright future. He was a first-year student at Southampton University, the first in his family to go to university. He was careful and principled, full of humour, warmth and promise. "You, Vickrum Digwa, murdered him. By doing so, you robbed him of all those he loved, all the things he cared about and liked to do. He would have been expected to live a long, hopefully, happy and fulfilling life. You have brought misery and a lifetime of loss upon his family and great sadness to everyone who knew him. "You showed a callous disregard for his wellbeing, knowing you had stabbed him to the chest. You continued to make films of Henry suffering, ignoring much of his desperation at having been stabbed. "You told him that had not happened, no doubt to convince others who were nearby. Your attitude did not change even though Henry was clearly going downhill very fast." During the trial at Southampton Crown Court, it was heard officers had been called to Belmont Road, where it was claimed Digwa had been the victim of an assault. On the 999 call from Digwa’s brother, on which Digwa can be heard, it was denied weapons had been used and the fatal injuries caused to Henry were never admitted to. When officers arrived at the scene, again the same story was told. Digwa even complained of a swollen eye while disputing that he had stabbed Henry. The family paid tribute to Henry in the documentary, and remember the happy times they shared when he was growing up. Following Mark and Lucy’s divorce, Henry’s stepmother Katie described it as “love at first sight” when she was introduced to five-year-old Henry. “We just clicked straight away,” Katie said. “He was always mucking around. He laughed at his own jokes way too often." Mark and Katie went on to have two more children, who idolised their older brother. The last photo the family took of Henry was him carrying his younger sister to the car after a trip to the pantomime, just days before his death. “He was just the sweetest person,” Katie added. Memories of Henry in his younger years are providing comfort. Older sister Olivia said: “All we did was laugh together. We would do funny dances or, we'd sing in the car together to our playlist... He was just hilarious. "He would annoy me, but he was protective. He was the best brother. He was, he still is, my best friend." Olivia is seen in the documentary with some T-shirts that she keeps on his bed. She puts them to her face as they still smell of Henry. Digwa, 23, is appealing on the grounds the sentence is too stringent and is also seeking permission to have his conviction quashed. Digwa's mother Kiran Kaur, 53, was found guilty of assisting an offender after hiding the murder weapon. She was jailed for three years. There was public outcry at the news that she may be released early. Foreign nationals jailed for 12 months or more are generally considered for deportation, although there are exceptions and decisions can be appealed. There were also protests after her son was sentenced on June 1. At least 13 defendants were jailed after violence broke out in Southampton. Speaking after the sentencing, Mark Nowak called for people to not exploit his son's death. "We want to use Henry's heartbreaking story to make change for the better," he said. "We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred, or tension. We want his story to make our streets safer for everyone." The Digwa case has already been referred by the Solicitor General with a view to increasing the sentence. Both sentence-length arguments will be heard at the Court of Appeal on Nov 5. His mother is appealing against the length of her sentence on the same day. Digwa repeatedly stabbed Henry in the street with an 8in blade he said that he was carrying because of his Sikh faith. But a court heard that he had a smaller blade for that purpose, as well as the murder weapon. When Digwa was jailed earlier this year at Southampton crown court, Temporary Hampshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Robert France said: "First and foremost, this is an unspeakable tragedy and I cannot being to imagine what Henry's family have suffered. "I am deeply sorry that Henry could not be saved. I am deeply sorry that in the moments he lost consciousness, he had been handcuffed and arrested. The facts heard in court should leave no doubt in anyone's mind who was lying to officers that night, and why we didn't immediately understand what had happened. "During the 999 call, when officers first arrived at the scene, and even when Henry's condition was deteriorating quickly, his killer continued to divert the blame, obstruct our enquiries and never admit the serious harm which had been done. "I understand that there are many questions about what happened that night. In those moments, the officers who attended didn't have all the information we have today." The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating two officers for potential gross misconduct. This includes possible failures to realise Henry needed urgent medical attention when he said he had been stabbed and the decision to handcuff him instead of giving first aid. Dear Henry: Our Fight for Justice - A Tonight Special airs on Thursday 5 November at 9pm on ITV, ITVX and ITV News YouTube Channel