UK Teens Found Guilty of Killing 80-Year-Old Man of Indian Origin

Tragic Incident in Leicester: Teenagers Found Guilty of Manslaughter

The Unprovoked Attack

In a deeply disturbing case that has shocked the community of Leicester and beyond, two teenagers were found guilty of manslaughter in the death of 80-year-old Bhim Sen Kohli. The incident occurred last September when Kohli was out for a routine walk with his dog in a park near his home in eastern England. The attack was described as “unprovoked,” and it tragically ended Kohli’s life.

The Trial and Conviction

Following a hearing at Leicester Crown Court, a 14-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl were convicted by a jury for their roles in the assault. Due to their ages, neither of the young offenders can be named. They will face sentencing next month.

Kelly Matthews, Senior District Crown Prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), emphasized the impact of the case: “This tragic incident shocked the community of Leicester and beyond. Mr. Kohli set out to walk his dog in his local park as he did every day, but lost his life in what followed.”

Matthews further stated, “We have shown in this trial that these young defendants were responsible for Mr. Kohli’s death – in an unprovoked attack on an innocent man. They filmed the incident and laughed and bragged about it afterwards.”

The Circumstances of the Attack

The court heard that the 14-year-old boy was the principal offender, as his actions directly led to Kohli’s death. While the girl was not the primary aggressor, evidence showed her encouragement and filming of the attack. However, there was insufficient evidence to prove she could have anticipated the fatal outcome of the boy’s violent conduct.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit Murder Investigation Team, described the incident as “truly tragic and heartbreaking.” Kohli’s walk with his dog, a daily routine, turned into a nightmare when he was confronted by the teenagers.

Community and Family Impact

The aftermath of the attack left a profound impact not only on Kohli’s family but also the wider community. DCI Sinski noted, “Sadly, the resultant injuries were fatal and Mr. Kohli’s death has left not only a family grieving the loss of a beloved husband, father, and grandfather but the wider community too.”

The age of the defendants added layers of complexity to the case. The prosecution focused on the principle of joint enterprise, charging both teenagers for their active participation in the incident, albeit in different roles.

Family’s Heartfelt Tribute

In the wake of the convictions, the victim’s daughter, Susan Kohli, issued a poignant statement on behalf of the family. She paid tribute to her father, a devoted life partner, loving dad, granddad, brother, and uncle. “Listening to the enormity of what dad was subjected to will never leave us. We feel anger and disgust towards the teenagers who took dad away from us. They humiliated an 80-year-old man, assaulted him, filmed it, and laughed at him,” she said.

Susan expressed the unbearable pain the family endures, especially as details from the trial emerged. She recounted how one of the videos showed her father on his knees, being hit over the head with the boy’s slider, accompanied by the “loud horrible slapping sound” and the girl’s laughter, which continues to haunt them.

Evidence and Legal Proceedings

Crucial evidence retrieved from the girl’s phone, including harrowing footage of the attack, was presented to the jury. The boy admitted to witnesses that he had assaulted Kohli and also wrote a letter to a social worker confessing his actions. Additional evidence included CCTV footage and audio of the teenagers joking about the attack afterwards.

The CPS concluded, “In charging these two young defendants, the CPS determined that they were both criminally responsible for Mr. Kohli’s death, but with different roles. They were prosecuted under the principle of joint enterprise. Both actively participated in the incident that led to Mr. Kohli’s death but in different ways.”