A Sikh man has been convicted of murdering an 18-year-old university student who was stabbed to death while returning home at night in Southampton, Britain.Vikram Digva, 23, was found guilty at Southampton Crown Court on December 3 of murdering Henry Novak using a 21cm formalin blade, the BBC reports.Digwa denied murder during the trial and claimed he acted in self-defence after the dispute escalated on Belmont Road shortly before 11.30pm.The court heard the confrontation began when the pair bumped into each other on the sidewalk while Novak was returning to his residence after a night out.DeGava told jurors the teen appeared to be intoxicated and later became aggressive during the conversation. She alleged that during the struggle, Novak made racial remarks, punched her and pulled off her turban.The defendant also claimed that he feared that Novak would use the saber against him after he captured the blade, which was worn in a sheath around his neck.Jurors rejected the defense and found Digva guilty of murder. He was also convicted of carrying a knife in a public place.The trial heard Novak suffered multiple knife wounds and attempted to escape by climbing over a fence before collapsing following the attack.Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, was also found guilty of assisting an offender after prosecutors said she removed the weapon from the scene.Emotional scenes unfolded in the court as the verdict was announced. Members of the public gallery were heard crying, while Novak’s parents hugged as they left the courtroom.Judge William Mousley described the case as “particularly difficult” and thanked the jurors for their “essential service”.