Kiran Kaur, 53, received a three‑year prison term last July for removing the knife her son, Vickrum Digwa, used to kill 18‑year‑old Henry Nowak in Southampton. The knife was hidden at the family home, where police later uncovered it among more than 20 other weapons, a fact prosecutors described as "crucial".
The Sentencing Act 2026, which entered force on October 1, automatically releases most prisoners serving fixed‑term sentences of up to 2½ years after one‑third of the term, rather than the previous half‑term rule. Kaur’s offence – assisting an offender – is not excluded, meaning her release could come after roughly 90 days of incarceration, with the remainder of her sentence served under licence conditions.
Donna Jones, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, said an early release would be a “significant setback” for the Nowak family, who have been waiting for justice. She plans to write to Justice Secretary Alex Norris for clarification, hoping the family’s voice is heard in any licence conditions.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed that the 221 days Kaur spent on remand were credited against her sentence and that, if released, she would likely be electronically tagged and confined to an agreed area. Victims will also be given a say in licence conditions, a new provision aimed at balancing offender rehabilitation with victim protection.
Digwa, who received a life sentence with a 21‑year minimum on June 1, will also appeal his sentence before the Court of Appeal on November 5. Kaur’s potential early exit and Digwa’s appeal underscore the complex interplay between sentencing reform, victim rights, and the UK’s deportation policy for foreign nationals. The next court hearing will decide whether Kaur remains in prison or is allowed to leave under licence, and whether a deportation order will follow her release.