Two tragic murders involving university students—one in London and the other in Southampton—have sent shockwaves through communities on both sides of the Atlantic and reignited debate about violence among young people in the UK. The deaths of Zhe Wang, 31, and Henry Nowak, 18, in separate incidents just months apart have left families devastated, university communities in mourning, and officials grappling with questions about safety, mental health, and the growing scourge of knife crime.
On March 20, 2024, the life of Zhe Wang, a talented and meticulous woman known for her high standards of cleanliness, was cut short in her own London apartment. According to ZUMAPRESS.com and court proceedings reported by prosecutors at the Old Bailey, Wang was stabbed to death by her boyfriend, Joshua Michals, a 26-year-old American student from Chicago. Michals, who was pursuing a master’s degree in filmmaking at Goldsmiths, University of London, had been in a relationship with Wang for six months. Their relationship, described by those close to them as intense and fraught with tension, had recently become strained after Wang developed a rash and accused Michals of transmitting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) to her.
Wang, described by prosecutors as a "self-confessed germophobe," had insisted on rigorous hygiene protocols before agreeing to sleep with Michals. The couple had only been intimate once, in February 2024, after Wang required Michals to provide STI test results and follow detailed instructions for cleanliness before entering her bedroom. Yet, after the encounter, Wang became convinced she had contracted an infection—possibly, as the court heard, a reaction to the morning-after pill—and demanded that Michals be tested again. When he refused, she threatened to report him to the university, escalating tensions between the two.
On the day of the murder, Michals arrived at Wang’s apartment with the intention of making a charcuterie board to console her, but the visit quickly devolved into a heated argument. Prosecutors told the court that Michals stabbed Wang twice in the face and choked her before leaving her bleeding on her bedroom floor. In a chilling detail, it was revealed that, instead of immediately calling for help, Michals first phoned his father, David—a Chicago-based sales executive—to obtain the details of a solicitor. Only later did he contact emergency services. When police arrived, they found Wang lying in a pool of blood, her life slipping away.
During his trial at the Old Bailey, Michals claimed he acted in self-defense, insisting that Wang had come at him with a knife. But the jury was unconvinced, ultimately finding him guilty of murder. As the verdict was read, Michals clutched his chest and buried his head in his hands while his parents, who had privately funded his defense, looked on from the gallery. The judge noted that Wang might have survived had Michals called for medical help immediately, rather than prioritizing legal counsel. According to MPS, Michals told police at the scene, “It’s not what it seems.”
While the London case gripped headlines with its elements of privilege, betrayal, and tragedy, a separate incident in Southampton has similarly stunned the nation and highlighted the persistent issue of knife crime among British youth. On December 3, 2025, Henry Nowak, a promising 18-year-old first-year student at the University of Southampton, was fatally stabbed on Belmont Road in the Portswood neighborhood as he returned home from end-of-semester celebrations with his football teammates. The attack, which occurred around 11:30 pm, left Nowak with fatal wounds to his chest and legs. Despite the rapid response of emergency services, he could not be saved, as reported by IBTimes and Hampshire Police.
Nowak’s family, heartbroken and reeling from the loss, described him as a bright student who had excelled in his A-levels and was thriving in his new environment. “Henry was loved by all those who knew him,” they said in a statement. “He was an incredible son, brother, cousin, grandson, nephew, friend, and teammate.” The teenager had quickly become an active member of university life, joining two football squads and holding down a part-time job at a local Morrisons supermarket. His family’s anguish was palpable: “There are no words to describe just how heartbroken we are that we will never get to see him grow and fulfil his awesome potential. Our world will never be the same without our amazing Henry.”
The police investigation moved swiftly. Vickrum Digwa, 22, of St Denys Road, Southampton, was charged with murder and possession of a bladed weapon in connection with the attack. Kiran Kaur, 52, of the same address, faced charges of assisting an offender. Both appeared before Southampton Magistrates’ Court on December 8. Meanwhile, a 26-year-old man remained in custody on suspicion of murder, and a 51-year-old man was released on conditional bail as inquiries continued. Detective Inspector Adam Edwards appealed for witnesses, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation in solving such cases.
The University of Southampton community was left reeling. Professor Mark E Smith, the university’s vice-chancellor, expressed the institution’s shock and sadness: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the death of our student, Henry Nowak.” The tragedy has sparked renewed calls for action to address the epidemic of knife crime, not only in Southampton but across the UK. The Portswood neighborhood, like many urban areas, has struggled with sporadic outbreaks of violence, and Nowak’s death has become a rallying point for those demanding greater safety measures and support for young people.
Both cases, while distinct in their circumstances, underline the vulnerability of students and young adults—whether to the dangers posed by intimate relationships gone awry or to the broader threat of street violence. The London case has raised uncomfortable questions about mental health, cultural differences, and the responsibilities of young people living far from home. The Southampton stabbing, meanwhile, has thrown a harsh spotlight on the continuing scourge of knife crime, an issue that has plagued British cities despite years of policy interventions and public awareness campaigns.
As families mourn and communities grapple with the aftermath, the stories of Zhe Wang and Henry Nowak serve as grim reminders of the fragility of life and the urgent need for compassion, vigilance, and reform. Their memories endure in the hearts of those they touched, even as the search for answers—and justice—continues.
