The chief constable of Hampshire police has apologised to the family of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed and arrested by officers moments before he died after being fatally stabbed by 23-year-old Indian-origin Sikh man Vickrum Singh Digwa in Southampton last December.
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Chief Constable Alexis Boon told BBC that he was "sorry" for the way officers treated the teenager and acknowledged the distress caused by bodycam footage that showed Nowak repeatedly telling police he had been stabbed and could not breathe.
"What was filmed there is a tragedy, an absolute tragedy. You can't help but be affected by it. It's very difficult to watch. I really feel for the family of Henry at this time," Boon told the broadcaster.
"I'm so sorry you've had to go through this," he added, reiterating an apology on behalf of the force for Nowak being handcuffed and arrested as he lay dying.
The apology came days after 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for murdering Nowak.
Digwa had falsely claimed that the teenager had racially abused him and knocked off his turban, leading officers to initially treat Nowak as a suspect rather than a victim.
A video widely shared on social media after the trial showed the final moments before Nowak's death. In the footage, the teenager can be seen lying on the ground while officers handcuff him and attempt to sit him up. He repeatedly tells police that he has been stabbed and struggles to breathe.
