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The daughter of an elderly dog walker who was killed by two teenagers just yards from his home said their family ‘will never be the same’ after watching footage of the horrific assault.
Bhim Kohli was attacked on September 1 last year while walking his dog Rocky in Franklin Park, not far from his home in Braunstone Town.
During the attack the 80-year-old was racially abused, and his attackers filmed the assault during which ‘gratuitous’ and ‘intense’ violence was used against him.
He suffered fractured ribs and a broken neck during the assault, during which the boy used his slider to slap him in the face.
Bhim was forced to the ground during the attack, before the boy slapped him in the face with the slider. The boy was wearing a balaclava at the time of the assault.
The girl filmed the assault and was accused of laughing along and encouraging it.
The pair, who cannot be named due to their age, have been found guilty of manslaughter at Leicester Crown Court.
But Bhim’s family said they will never get over listening to the extent of violence he suffered.
Bhim’s daughter Susan said: ‘He was screaming out; he was in that much pain – it was horrendous, we have never seen him like that before.
‘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.
‘Rocky, our dog, returned home alone on that day and has been lost without dad. He had 15 years with my dad, and it is clear he misses him deeply.’
The boy said he thought Bhim was going to hit or push his female co-defendant and so intervened to push him away, but then claimed he fell on top of the dog-walker.
Bhim’s family paid tribute to him at the time, saying the ‘joker’ was ‘always laughing’.
The tribute said: ‘He adored his grandkids with all his heart and loved spending time with them. He really was such a loving, caring person whose life was centred around his family.
‘He has always been a very hardworking man and even at the age of 80 he was still very active.
‘One of his great passions was his allotment, he would go everyday to tend to his plots and was so proud of them.
‘He also enjoyed walking the family dog Rocky on the park many times a day.
‘Bhim loved to laugh. He was always very happy and talkative, the joker of the family and always loved to outsmart us with a smile.
‘Our family have lived in the same house in Braunstone for 40 years, so he was very well known in the community – we have been overwhelmed by the messages and support from many who knew him.
‘Our hearts have been completely broken. We are now pulling together as a family to try and support each other through the most difficult time imaginable and would ask for privacy while we do this.’
The jury unanimously found both teenagers guilty of manslaughter after six hours and 46 minutes of deliberation.
They found the boy not guilty of murder.
Judge Mr Justice Turner remanded the boy in custody but granted the girl bail until sentencing on May 20.
But he told her: ‘I want to make it absolutely crystal clear that the fact that bail is being granted should not be taken as any indication as to the sentence when the time comes.’
The judge will consider a media application to lift reporting restrictions and allow the teenagers to be named on May 19, ahead of sentencing.
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