The peaceful neighborhood of Franklin Park in Braunstone Town near Leicester was shaken to its core while two Teenagers Killed 80-Year-Old Man in an act of unthinkable violence on 1 September 2023.
Bhim Kohli, an 80-year-old man known for his kind heart and warm smile, was brutally attacked by two teenagers — a 15-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl — while out on a regular walk with his dog, Rocky.
The incident, which occurred just a short distance from his home, not only led to his tragic death but also revealed a disturbing level of cruelty and racism that has left the local community reeling.
Bhim Kohli, a retired businessman and a beloved figure in his community, was described by his family as the pillar that held them together. His death wasn’t the result of a random accident or natural causes — it was a deliberate and vicious act carried out by children who appeared to take pleasure in his suffering.
According to the court proceedings, Bhim Kohli suffered a broken neck and several rib fractures — injuries caused by a violent assault that ended his life the following evening in hospital.
The attack was made even more horrific by the fact that it was recorded on video. The girl filmed as the boy — wearing a balaclava — slapped the elderly man in the face with his shoe. Both reportedly laughed during the assault, mocking Kohli as he lay on the ground.
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This was not just physical violence; it was an act of complete humiliation. These details, disclosed during the trial, added to the heartache of the family and community members who saw in Bhim Kohli a loving father, husband, and neighbor.
The Trial and Chilling Testimonies
The trial, which took place at Leicester Crown Court, painted a chilling picture of what had transpired that evening. During court proceedings, the jury heard that the boy and girl had approached Bhim Kohli under the false belief that he was carrying a knife. This claim, made by the girl, led the boy to confront Kohli. What followed was not a defense or escape but a physical confrontation that turned deadly.
In a particularly disturbing detail, the boy admitted during the trial that he had struck Kohli out of “instinct” using his shoe. The prosecution called it what it clearly was — “gratuitous violence against a man who was defenceless.”
Despite the boy’s later attempts to claim remorse, including a letter written two months after the attack where he said “I did it and I accept I’m doing time,” the court and Kohli’s family saw through the superficiality of these words.
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Bhim Kohli’s daughter, Susan, stood on the court steps after the verdicts and delivered a heartfelt statement. She described the unimaginable pain her family has endured, saying that their home “feels so empty without him.”
Her father, she said, was “brutally and cruelly taken away from us” during what should have been a harmless walk in the park. His attackers not only inflicted physical harm but also filmed the ordeal, laughed at his suffering, and stripped him of his dignity.
The teenagers, who cannot be named due to their age, were found guilty of manslaughter after the jury deliberated for nearly seven hours. As the verdicts were read, the youths appeared visibly shaken — the first time they had sat in the dock during the entire trial. But for Kohli’s family, this display of emotion from the defendants could not undo the trauma they had inflicted.
A Life Remembered and a Community Mourns
For those who knew Bhim Kohli, the loss is deeply personal. Described as a “true family man” by Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski of Leicestershire Police, Kohli was someone who cherished simple joys — walking his dog, tending to his allotment, growing vegetables for neighbors. Many in his community fondly referred to him as “grandad,” not just out of affection but as a recognition of the respect he commanded.
The racial abuse directed at Bhim Kohli during the attack has added another layer of sorrow and anger to this case. DCI Sinski noted that the Kohli family had lived peacefully in the area for many years without experiencing such hatred.
The fact that this came from children made it all the more disturbing. “It’s extremely distasteful — any sort of racist motivation, even in part,” he said, lamenting the tragic reality that such attitudes could be harbored by youth in this day and age.
The family has made it clear that they view the attackers’ remorse as insincere. They are still processing the horror of hearing in court how their father, a man who was gentle and full of life, was degraded in his final moments.
His daughter Susan recalled how even opening the front door brings back painful memories of that night. The house, she said, is no longer a home — just an echo of what it used to be when her father was alive.
Justice and Its Limitations
Though the verdict of manslaughter brings a measure of legal justice, it offers little consolation to the family who now must face every day without their beloved patriarch.
Sentencing has been adjourned until May 20, and while the 15-year-old boy remains in custody, the girl has been released on bail. Mr Justice Turner commended the jury for their attentiveness and conscientious service during what was undoubtedly a difficult trial.
The case has also sparked broader discussions about youth violence, the influence of social media, and the failure of communities to reach some of their most vulnerable children before they act out in such dangerous ways. The act of filming the assault and sharing in its cruelty shows a complete lack of empathy, a disconnection from the reality of human suffering.
Bhim Kohli’s death, however, will not be forgotten. His family’s strength in speaking out, their refusal to let his memory be overshadowed by the actions of two misguided teenagers, ensures that his legacy as a kind, joyful, and respected man will live on. They have called attention to the urgent need for reflection — on racism, on violence, and on how society nurtures or fails its youngest members.
The attack on Bhim Kohli was not just an attack on one man, but on the very fabric of a community that believed it was safe, inclusive, and peaceful. It has exposed wounds that many thought had healed, and it reminds us that justice, though served, does not always bring healing.
As the sentencing awaits and the community continues to mourn, Bhim Kohli’s story stands as a tragic reminder of how even the simplest joys — a walk in the park — can be shattered by violence and hate. It’s also a call to action for society to do more in preventing such senseless tragedies from ever occurring again.