The footage shows Vickrum Digwa, a Sikh man, falsely claiming he had been “racially attacked” by the innocent 18-year-old university student.
Digwa was jailed earlier this month with a minimum term of 21 years for murdering Mr Nowak on the streets of Southampton on December 3 last year.
Disturbing bodycam footage from the scene captured Mr Nowak repeatedly telling officers he had been stabbed and struggling to breathe.
Before losing consciousness, one officer told the teenager: “Don’t think you have, mate.”
At the same time, the 23-year-old was not handcuffed after being arrested on suspicion of murder.
In the footage, officers are heard telling him: “You’ve got your side of the story, mate. We don’t know what’s happened here, OK?”
After Digwa claimed he had been attacked, one officer responded: “I know, mate, I know. I’m not saying you’ve done anything.”
Digwa insisted he acted in self-defence, claiming Mr Nowak was drunk and had used a racial slur after bumping into him. He also alleged the teenager called him a “bad man.”
Hampshire Police later confirmed to the BBC that Digwa was not handcuffed during four days in custody before being charged.
Mr Nowak’s family said the stark contrast in how police treated their son and his killer was “unbearable.”
While paramedics performed CPR on the teenager, Digwa told officers: “He pushed my turban off my head and started grabbing my hair. I’m a Sikh, obviously.”
He added: “I told him, ‘Mate, you’re clearly drunk. Just carry on with your day.’ But he escalated things, calling me a p**i and other abuse.”
In the nine-minute arrest footage, Digwa also claimed his family had previously suffered racist attacks. He even complained about emergency vehicle lights, asking officers to switch the flashing lights off because they were hurting his eyes.
A male officer then told him: “This is really important, okay? The time now is 11.55pm.”
Digwa replied that he was tired before the officer said: “At this time, I’m arresting you on suspicion of attempted murder.”
Digwa responded: “Attempted murder? What do you mean? Why am I being arrested?”
The officer repeated: “You’ve got your side of the story, mate. We don’t know what’s happened, so we need to find out.”
Digwa again claimed he had been “racially attacked,” prompting the officer to reply: “I know, mate, I know. I’m not saying you’ve done anything.”
Chris Philp has since criticised what he called the “shameful difference” in how both men were treated during the arrests.
Earlier this week, transcripts revealed officers failed to identify Mr Nowak’s stab wound for eight minutes, despite the teenager telling them nine times that he had been stabbed.
Police only raised the alarm after officers realised Mr Nowak had stopped breathing.
