Tom spoke out following the response to the murder – and his fans love him for it
09:53, 04 Jun 2026Updated 09:59, 04 Jun 2026
Tom Zanetti(Image: Tom Zanetti/Instagram)
DJ Tom Zanetti has defended the Sikh community in the wake of the Henry Nowak murder.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, stabbed 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton in December last year with the 21cm blade, which the court heard had been in a sheath attached to a belt over the outside of the killer’s clothing. While he was wearing a small ceremonial knife – known as a kirpan and usually worn under clothing – his second blade, described by the trial judge as “a large Sikh dagger”, was used as the murder weapon.
Harrowing body-worn footage shows Henry telling police that he has been stabbed and cannot breathe, but being dismissed by one officer who tells him “don’t think you have mate”.
Some commentators have questioned whether the officers called to the scene were less inclined to believe him because he was white, although the judge who sentenced his killer Vickrum Digwa to life with a minimum of 21 years found that Mr Nowak’s unsurvivable injuries would not have been obvious to the first responders.
The murder has resulted in a huge political and media outcry and has even seen demonstrations on the streets of Southampton. But Leeds DJ Tom Zanetti has said people should not blame all Sikhs over the murder.
Tom posted on Facebook saying: “It is NOT “Sikh terrorism’ I’m gutted by what’s happened, but blaming Sikhs as a whole is ridiculous.
“This was ONE psychopath and his sly family, not an entire community! Sikhs have stood alongside Britain in wars, they have helped our communities for generations, they give food to our poor and homeless from their Gurdwaras every week no matter the colour of the person who walks in.
“I DO NOT condone carrying blades at all, I don’t think ANYBODY should carry knives, but if it is any sort of defense at all – it wasn’t the small religious ‘kirpan’ which is commonly carried and has been for hundreds of years with not a single incident like this. It was a much larger sheathed dagger/blade that was used, and this one phsyco wanted to cause harm.
“There is good and bad in every race, religion, and community. We, who are good, are ONE PEOPLE. Unfortunately, huge parts the media and some of those in power obviously push narratives to try and divide us, and we need to stick together for the good, and call out the bad.
“I believe in God and will always put the morals and teachings of Jesus Christ first, but I also like to learn and be inspired by parts of other religions. I love my Sikh friends, I love my Muslim friends, iv grown up with people from all backgrounds that I count as family in many cases. If someone is violent or hateful for their belief they are not part of us who fight for the good!
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“God bless Henry, he used his last breath to beg the people to meant to help him, but instead they helped his murderer just because they falsely claimed he was ‘racist’ how the hell do u work that out!! And that’s the problem these days, no common sense, words can offend people more than actions, and there seems to be no reality / actual distinction of right from wrong! NOT EVERYTHING IS RACIST, NOT EVERY COMMUNITY OR RACE IS BAD IF ONE IDIOT DOES SOMETHING!!
“The majority of us just want good, and the Sikhs have been calling out the bad, so we stand with them!”
His post generated huge support from his followers. One said: “I agree…..I live in Bradford and there is a massive Sikh community and are nothing but lovely people never an issue….you cant tar a whole people because of one bad egg!!”
(Image: Hampshire Police)
Another said: “Sikhs have my utmost respect. I’ve always thought of Sikhs as a warrior race in a positive way. Not an intimidating way. All the Sikhs I’ve worked with have been my closest colleagues, and my local Sikh temple has been more welcoming than every religion I have known. There will always be a black sheep. That does NOT define the community. The issue in this case is sadly the police.”
And a third posted: “Absolutely true, Tom! There is good and bad in the world no matter what colour and beliefs….We are all the HUMAN RACE! It’s the individual choices made by a singular evil, not the whole. We should ALL stand together in the face of the growing evil that our so called world leaders are not acknowledging or are apart of. Unity and love for each other is what conquers the evil that is spreading worldwide….made worse by THE MEDIA!! I stand with my fellow people, whoever or wherever they are. RIP Harry Novak.”
