The mother of Henry Nowak’s killer is set to be released from prison after serving less than half of her three-year sentence and may face deportation upon her release. Kiran Kaur, 53, an Indian national, was convicted of assisting an offender by helping to remove the weapon used by her son, Vickrum Digwa, to stab and kill the 18-year-old University of Southampton student last December.

Kaur was sentenced to three years in prison but is eligible for early release under the government’s scheme. She has been held at HMP Bronzefield in Middlesex since her arrest last December. Authorities have issued Kaur with a Deportation Liability Notice, which indicates she could be removed from the United Kingdom, possibly before the end of the year. However, no final decision has been confirmed by the Home Office, and Kaur has the option to make representations against deportation. Sources indicate that she is distressed by the prospect of removal, which would complicate her ability to maintain contact with her family, particularly her son, who remains incarcerated.

Kiran Kaur is scheduled to appear at the Court of Appeal on November 5 to challenge her sentence, despite her eligibility for early release. On the same day, Vickrum Digwa, 23, will also appeal his life sentence. Digwa was found guilty of murdering Henry Nowak with a Sikh ceremonial knife during an altercation on December 3 in Southampton. Prosecutors stated he repeatedly stabbed Nowak with the 21-centimeter blade. Digwa has maintained that he was provoked by racial abuse from Nowak, a claim that was rejected by the jury.

The circumstances surrounding the incident have drawn criticism toward Hampshire police after body-worn video footage showed officers handcuffing Nowak as he lay wounded and repeatedly telling them he had been stabbed. The footage raised questions about the police response at the scene.

Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years. His legal team has argued that the sentence was overly harsh, while the attorney-general plans to contend that it was too lenient.

The Home Office issued a statement expressing condolences to the victim’s family and reaffirming its commitment to deport foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes at the earliest opportunity. The outcome of both Kaur’s and Digwa’s appeals is pending.