Six more charged following violent disorder in Southampton
Seven men remanded in custody as police continue investigations into unrest that happened earlier this week
Last updated 5 hours ago
Six more people have been charged with violent disorder after protests in Southampton earlier this week following the murder of Henry Nowak.
It brings the total number of people charged after disorder in the port city to 11.
Those charged with violent disorder are:
- Kevin Reeves, 31, of Portswood Road, Southampton
- Andrew Riddett, 38, of Seacombe Green, Southampton
- Harry Varney, 34, of Briarswood, Southampton
- Taylor Grundy, 22, of Pavilion Way, Gosport
- Dillon Crawford, 29, of Wilton Avenue, Southampton
In addition, 38-year-old Andrew Summerhayes, of Banning Street, Romsey, has been charged with violent disorder and two counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.
All six defendants have been remanded in custody and are scheduled to appear before Southampton Magistrates’ Court today (6 June).
Police investigations into the disorder remain ongoing.
The charges come after protests following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa, 23, to life imprisonment to serve a minimum of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old Mr Nowak in December.
Anger erupted after police body-worn video was released showing Mr Nowak being placed in handcuffs moments before he became unconscious and subsequently died.
The treatment of the 18-year-old triggered a political row, with the Prime Minister urging politicians to heed the teenager’s relatives’ calls not to use the case “to cause disturbances”.
Violent protests erupted near where the student was fatally stabbed, after Digwa claimed he had been the victim of a racial attack, while Mr Nowak was handcuffed by police who ignored his pleas that he could not breathe as he lay dying.