Henry Nowak's parents condemn killer's appeal against sentence today and his mother's early release as 'an absolute disgrace'

Henry Nowak's family have revealed their anger at how their son's killer is trying to reduce his life sentence - while his mother will soon be released from prison early.An appeal from Vickrum Digwa over his jail term for killing the university student in Southampton will be heard today, as well as the Attorney General's bid to increase it.Digwa, 23, was imprisoned for at least 21 years in June after stabbing 18-year-old Mr Nowak on December 3 last year with a ceremonial knife that had an eight-inch blade.Police body-worn video was released showing officers handcuffing Mr Nowak as he lay dying after Digwa falsely told officers that the teenager had racially abused him.In the footage, which prompted huge protests, Mr Nowak could be heard repeatedly saying 'I've been stabbed' - to which an officer replied: 'Don't think you have, mate.'Digwa is claiming that his sentence length is 'manifestly excessive', but Attorney General Ellie Reeves has also referred it to the Court of Appeal as 'unduly lenient'.Three senior judges are set to listen to both bids to change the sentence this morning - with the hearing before Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, Mr Justice Nicklin and Mr Justice Wall due to begin at 10am at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.But in an interview for a new ITV Tonight documentary airing at 9pm this evening, Mr Nowak's stepmother Katie Nowak said: 'It just doesn't feel fair to us at all.'It's another process that we've got to go through. It's another fight that we have to have. It was a very clear verdict. It's not right that he's allowed to do this.'Digwa is separately seeking to overturn his conviction, but a decision has yet to be made on whether that challenge can go ahead. Katie said that it was 'ludicrous' that he may get permission – while Mr Nowak's father Mark Nowak called it 'shocking'.Henry Nowak's father Mark Nowak (left) and stepmother Katie Nowak (centre), speak with ITV News UK editor Paul Brand (right) in the new documentary 'Dear Henry: Our Fight For Justice' Henry Nowak was stabbed in Southampton last December then handcuffed as he lay dyingITV News UK editor Paul Brand (left) speaks to Mr Nowak's sister Olivia (second right) who revealed she alerted her mother Lucy Ross (far right) to the police arriving at the family homeDigwa's mother, Kiran Kaur, was sentenced to three years in prison in July for assisting an offender, after she hid the blade Digwa used to kill Mr Nowak.But 53-year-old Kaur is expected to be freed at some point next month after serving just one year of her sentence, as part of the Government's early release scheme.Mr Nowak's mother Lucy Ross told ITV: 'Mother to mother – she is no mother. We all protect our children, but we also protect our children from right and wrong. But she never did the right thing. She hid the knife, which had Henry's blood on it.'The family said the timing of Kaur's upcoming release feels 'particularly cruel' to them, because the date is around the first anniversary of Mr Nowak's death.Ms Ross added: 'As soon as she gets out, she could arrange a visiting order to go see [Digwa]. She's lucky enough that she could go and see her boy. I have to go to Henry's grave to see Henry.'Mr Nowak's father, Mark Nowak, also said: 'It's an absolute disgrace. Let's be honest. She was convicted in May of this year. She'll be out in December of this year having received a three-year sentence.'How on earth can that be right? She'll be out for Christmas, and I won't have Christmas with Henry.'The family have called on the Government to rethink its decision to allow Kaur's early release - and the scheme as a whole.Mrs Nowak said: 'I'd say that victims need to have far more weight and thought given to how they feel. Because throughout this whole process, it doesn't feel like anyone's on your side.' Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to at least 21 years in prison for murdering Henry Nowak Vickrum Digwa's mother Kiran Kaur (above) was jailed for three years for assisting an offender Police officers pinned fatally injured Mr Nowak to the ground as he gasped 'I've been stabbed'Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced last month that an independent review led by former lord chancellor Alex Chalk would examine Mr Nowak's murder, including 'any missed opportunities to intervene'.Several investigations have been launched into Hampshire Police's handling of the killing since Digwa was sentenced.In August, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services opened an investigation into the force after a request by police and crime commissioner Donna Jones.The commissioner said the inspection would cover the 'end-to-end process' from call-handling in the control room, dispatch and initial attendance at incidents of serious violence.The Independent Office for Police Conduct launched an investigation in July into two officers for potential gross misconduct over their interactions with Mr Nowak on the night he was stabbed.The watchdog is also examining whether race or religion contributed to the officers' decision-making.On Tuesday, Andy Burnham said he wanted to see the results of a review into Mr Nowak's death before weighing in on how the teenager's family had been subsequently treated.The Prime Minister told reporters: 'I know the chief constable has apologised, and rightly so, because everybody will think back to when they first saw the distressing scenes in the video, and have nothing but the utmost sympathy for Henry's family. So everybody understands how hard it is for them.'The apology has come from the chief constable. The Home Secretary has ordered a review of the handling of this case, and that is right too. So, before we go further, I think we need to see the results of that review.''Dear Henry: Our Fight For Justice' will air at 9pm tonight on ITV, ITVX and the ITV News YouTube channel