“There was deliberate humiliation of Bhim Kohli"
A 15-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl have been sentenced for killing 80-year-old Bhim Kohli as he walked his dog in a park close to his home.
Mr Kohli was attacked on September 1, 2023, while walking his dog in Franklin Park, close to his home in Braunstone Town, Leicestershire.
The boy, then aged 14, racially abused Mr Kohli before kicking and punching him. The victim was also slapped with a shoe.
The girl, aged 12 at the time, filmed the attack and laughed.
Mr Kohli suffered fractured ribs and damage to his spinal cord. He later died at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.
At Leicester Crown Court, the teenage pair were convicted of manslaughter.
The boy was sentenced to seven years in custody.
The girl has been sentenced to a youth rehabilitation order of three years – which means she will be supervised and required to follow certain conditions in the community.
Mr Justice Turner said it had been a “cowardly and violent attack” on an elderly man who did “nothing to deserve” what happened to him.
He continued: “I am sure you wanted to confront Mr Kohli in order to impress the girl as she filmed what happened.”
Addressing the girl, the judge said she “did not play a leading role” in the killing, but “it was not a minor part either”.
Prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu KC addressed the court and said:
“The evidence as a whole, in our submission, demonstrates (the boy) pushed, punched and kicked Bhim Kohli and he did so out of anger.
“The evidence we have cited also leads to the conclusion that in this case, death was caused in the course of an unlawful act which carried a high risk of death or grievous bodily harm which ought to have been obvious to (the boy).
“There was deliberate humiliation of Bhim Kohli when (the boy) used violence in the presence of (the girl) and through (the girl’s) filming of that violence.
“We submit (the boy) had a leading role. The evidence establishes (the boy) was clearly encouraged to do what he did.”
Bhim Kohli’s daughter Susan spoke of the moments she found her “frail” father injured on the ground yards from his home.
She said:
“He was in so much pain, he was screaming out. It was horrendous, and we have never seen him like this.”
“We knew he was very poorly and in severe pain, but we thought he would go to Leicester Royal Infirmary and be fine. We never imagined he would never return home.
“We were later told the shocking news he was no longer able to take the medication that was keeping him alive.
“He passed away before our eyes, surrounded by his family who were in floods of tears and disbelief.
“Due to him being killed in these circumstances and being involved in a criminal investigation, dad was unable to donate his organs which were always his wishes. It pains me we were unable to meet his wishes.”
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