13-year-old girl who filmed the assault receives youth rehabilitation order and curfew
A 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to seven years in prison for the killing of Bhim Sen Kohli, an 80-year-old Indian-origin man, during a brutal and unprovoked attack in Leicester, England, last year. A 13-year-old girl who filmed the incident and encouraged the boy during the assault has been handed a three-year youth rehabilitation order and a six-month curfew, reported indiatoday.in.
Kohli was racially abused, slapped, and attacked while walking his dog; he died the next day in hospital
The tragic incident occurred around 6:30 pm on September 1, 2024, while Kohli was walking his dog in a Leicester park. The teenage boy, referred to as D1, racially abused Kohli before slapping him in the face with a shoe and proceeding to punch and kick him. The girl, D2, filmed the attack and laughed, later sharing it among friends. Kohli died a day later in hospital.
Judge describes attack as ‘cowardly’ and ‘wicked’ during sentencing
Justice Mark Turner, delivering the verdict in a televised hearing from Leicester Crown Court, called the assault “cowardly” and “wicked.”
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While both teenagers were found guilty of manslaughter, their identities remain protected due to their age
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The court was presented with disturbing footage from D2’s phone, which proved central to the prosecution’s case
Addressing the girl, Justice Turner ruled that a custodial sentence would be more damaging than corrective, opting instead for the rehabilitation order and curfew. For the boy, the judge emphasized the gravity of targeting an elderly man who posed no threat.
Family mourns loss of ‘devoted father and grandfather’
In a heartfelt statement following the convictions, Kohli’s daughter, Susan Kohli, remembered her father as a “devoted partner” and a “loving father, grandfather, brother, and uncle.” She condemned the teenagers’ actions, stating:
“They humiliated an 80-year-old man, assaulted him, filmed it, and laughed at him… We feel anger and disgust.”
Kohli had owned a knitwear factory in Leicester and was long retired. He is survived by his children and grandchildren.
Prosecutors highlight cruelty and lack of remorse
Kelly Matthews of the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the defendants were caught on CCTV laughing about the assault, and the boy even admitted to witnesses and a social worker that he attacked Kohli. “They bragged about it,” Matthews said, calling the crime “an unprovoked attack on an innocent man.”
