What was meant to be an ordinary evening stroll for 80-year-old Bhim Kohli ended in a senseless act of violence that cost him his life.
The elderly man, known for his daily walks near his home in Leicester, found himself the victim of an unprovoked attack in Franklin Park.
A 15-year-old boy, allegedly fueled by anger, targeted him in a brutal assault, while a 13-year-old girl filmed the horrifying scene, laughing in the background.
The Attack in Franklin Park
According to the prosecution at Leicester Crown Court, the two teenagers encountered Mr. Kohli on September 1.
The girl reportedly pointed him out, falsely accusing him of trying to hit her friend.
This prompted the boy to approach Mr. Kohli, and as the situation escalated, he put on a balaclava, signaling his intent to use violence.
With the elderly man on his knees, defenseless, the boy struck him repeatedly using his slider sandal.
Video footage recovered from the girl’s phone showed the harrowing moments of the attack.
The prosecution described it as “pure violence,” emphasizing that Mr. Kohli posed no threat.
Despite his injuries, he managed to call his grandson before succumbing to his wounds the following day.
Evidence and Investigation
As part of the investigation, authorities retrieved multiple videos from the girl’s Snapchat account, stored in a section requiring a special code to access.
These recordings captured not only the attack but also the teenagers’ reactions afterward.
Witnesses reported hearing the boy brag about the assault, stating they had “beaten up some guy in Franklin Park” and later boasting about his fall.
Further analysis of their mobile phones revealed a developing friendship between the accused pair in the weeks leading up to the attack.
After leaving the park, the teenagers allegedly changed their clothes and attempted to fabricate a justification for their actions, falsely claiming Mr. Kohli had pulled out a knife—a claim investigators found to be entirely untrue.
The Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
When confronted about his actions, the boy reportedly admitted in conversations with others that he had “let his anger out” and feared the consequences.
In a letter written after his arrest, he expressed regret but also acknowledged he was aware of his responsibility for Mr. Kohli’s death.
The girl, during her police interview, downplayed her role, insisting she filmed the attack without thinking and initially found it amusing.
The trial, which is expected to last six weeks, continues as the prosecution argues that the boy deliberately inflicted serious harm, making him guilty of murder, while the girl, by encouraging the violence, bears responsibility for manslaughter.
As the case unfolds, the court will determine the fate of the two teenagers involved in this tragic incident.