Two Teenagers Convicted of Manslaughter of Elderly Man in Leicestershire
The 80-year-old victim was fatally assaulted in a local park, as a court finds two youths guilty of the crime.
Two teenagers have been convicted of the manslaughter of Bhim Kohli, an 80-year-old man who was brutally attacked in a park near Leicester in September.
The verdict was delivered by Leicester Crown Court after a trial that detailed the violent incident during which Kohli was walking his dog.
A 15-year-old male, who was found guilty of manslaughter, was reported to have kicked, punched, and racially abused Kohli.
Testimony revealed that while Kohli was on his knees, the boy slapped him in the face with one of his slider shoes.
A 13-year-old girl, who filmed the attack and was described as laughing and encouraging the assault, was also found guilty of manslaughter.
The jury took approximately six hours and 46 minutes to reach a unanimous decision.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Kohli suffered significant injuries, including a broken neck and three broken ribs, as a result of the attack.
He succumbed to his injuries the following day in hospital.
Evidence included audio of the girl laughing while filming the assault.
Harpreet Sandhu KC, representing the prosecution, characterized the act as gratuitous violence directed at a defenseless elderly individual.
He emphasized that the girl had prior knowledge of a potential assault and aimed to document it, which he argued contributed to the violence.
The court heard that both defendants were part of a group of five children in the park that evening.
Other members of the group left the scene upon observing the interaction between Kohli and the two defendants, expressing concerns that the boy might act aggressively.
In a letter written while in custody, the boy expressed regret over his actions, stating that he had experienced flashbacks of the incident and felt as though he had let his mother down.
He acknowledged his culpability and expressed fear regarding the consequences of his actions.
Throughout the trial, he maintained a narrative of self-defense, claiming he intervened believing Kohli was about to strike the girl.
Kohli's family has voiced their heartbreak over his death, depicting him as a devoted family member.
The victim’s daughter, Susan Kohli, reported their grief in a statement, emphasizing the serious injury inflicted by the boy and expressed distress over the girl’s laughter during the assault.
The judge has remanded the boy into custody while granting the girl bail, with sentencing scheduled for 20 May.
The verdict was delivered by Leicester Crown Court after a trial that detailed the violent incident during which Kohli was walking his dog.
A 15-year-old male, who was found guilty of manslaughter, was reported to have kicked, punched, and racially abused Kohli.
Testimony revealed that while Kohli was on his knees, the boy slapped him in the face with one of his slider shoes.
A 13-year-old girl, who filmed the attack and was described as laughing and encouraging the assault, was also found guilty of manslaughter.
The jury took approximately six hours and 46 minutes to reach a unanimous decision.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Kohli suffered significant injuries, including a broken neck and three broken ribs, as a result of the attack.
He succumbed to his injuries the following day in hospital.
Evidence included audio of the girl laughing while filming the assault.
Harpreet Sandhu KC, representing the prosecution, characterized the act as gratuitous violence directed at a defenseless elderly individual.
He emphasized that the girl had prior knowledge of a potential assault and aimed to document it, which he argued contributed to the violence.
The court heard that both defendants were part of a group of five children in the park that evening.
Other members of the group left the scene upon observing the interaction between Kohli and the two defendants, expressing concerns that the boy might act aggressively.
In a letter written while in custody, the boy expressed regret over his actions, stating that he had experienced flashbacks of the incident and felt as though he had let his mother down.
He acknowledged his culpability and expressed fear regarding the consequences of his actions.
Throughout the trial, he maintained a narrative of self-defense, claiming he intervened believing Kohli was about to strike the girl.
Kohli's family has voiced their heartbreak over his death, depicting him as a devoted family member.
The victim’s daughter, Susan Kohli, reported their grief in a statement, emphasizing the serious injury inflicted by the boy and expressed distress over the girl’s laughter during the assault.
The judge has remanded the boy into custody while granting the girl bail, with sentencing scheduled for 20 May.
