Three additional individuals have been accused in connection with the disruptions that occurred during demonstrations regarding the tragic death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak. Hampshire Police announced on Friday that Connor Bishop, 24, residing on Oxford Street in Southampton, Reece Robinson, 21, from Soberton Road in Havant, and Noah Etherington, 18, from Rowbury Road in Havant, have all been charged with violent disorder. They are scheduled to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court today.
These charges follow the court appearance of Daniel Frost and Matt Styler on Thursday for their involvement in the protest-related disorder. Frost, aged 44, admitted to charges of violent disorder and possessing an offensive weapon, while Styler, aged 50, denied accusations of assaulting an emergency worker, specifically a police officer.
The protests in Southampton were triggered by the release of body camera footage depicting Mr. Nowak being restrained as he was fatally injured.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday for the murder of the student in Southampton on December 3, 2025, using what was described by a judge as a “Sikh dagger.” Mr. Nowak was assaulted while walking home alone after a night out with his football teammates.
Following the attack, Digwa misled the police by claiming he was a victim of a racially motivated assault, resulting in the wrongful arrest of Mr. Nowak. Despite Mr. Nowak’s repeated statements about being stabbed, the officers initially disregarded his claims.
The incident sparked national outrage over law enforcement’s handling of the victim and sparked discussions about exemptions for carrying religious knives. Hundreds gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station to protest, displaying ‘Unite the Kingdom’ flags and hearing speeches from individuals like far-right activist Tommy Robinson, also known as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
The demonstration turned violent as the group advanced towards the Digwa family residence in St Denys, where neighbor Sophie Martin reported damages to both her family’s car and the Digwa family’s vehicle. Riot gear-clad officers were targeted with thrown chairs, cans, and flares. Hampshire Police reported injuries to 11 officers and a police dog during the unrest.
