A 14-year-old boy has been charged with murder in connection with the brutal death of an elderly man just metres from his home while he was walking his dog.
Bhim Sen Kohli, 80, was “seriously” assaulted while walking his dog in Franklin Park in Braunstone Town, Leicester, at around 6.30pm on Sunday and later died in hospital.
After Leicestershire Police, the force investigating the tragic death, said yesterday that five children, a boy and a girl aged 14 and two girls and a boy aged 12, were being questioned, it was later He said all but the 14-year-old boy were released without charge.
The force confirmed yesterday after a post-mortem that Mr Kohli died “from a neck injury”, although it added that further tests were pending.
Kohli’s wife Satinder, 73, was seen yesterday laying flowers at a memorial near where he died along with friends, family and Rocky, the dog he was walking when he was attacked.
Bhim Sen Kohli, 80, (pictured), was “seriously” assaulted by a “group of youths” as he walked his dog in Franklin Park in Braunstone Town, Leicester, at around 6.30pm on Sunday.
Kohli’s wife Satinder, 73, was seen laying flowers at a memorial near where he died.
She was seen with Rocky, the dog that Mr Kohli was walking when he died (pictured)
His family said in a statement through Leicestershire Police yesterday: ‘Bhim was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was also a son, brother and uncle. He adored his grandchildren with all his heart and loved spending time with them.
‘He really was a very loving and caring person whose life was centered around his family.
He has always been a very hard-working man and even at 80 years old he is still very active. One of his great passions was his vegetable garden, he went there every day to tend to it and was very proud of it. He also enjoyed walking the family dog, Rocky, around the park many times a day.
‘Bhim loved to laugh. He was always very happy and chatty, he was the joker of the family and always loved to tease us with a smile. Our family has lived in the same house in Braunstone for 40 years so he was well known in the community. We were overwhelmed by the messages and support from many people who knew him.
“We have been completely heartbroken. We are now working together as a family to try and support each other through this most difficult time imaginable and we ask for privacy while we do so.”
Undated family photo issued by Leicestershire Police of Bhim Kohli
Flowers and tributes are left for Bhim Kohli near the Bramble Way entrance to Franklin Park on September 4, 2024 in Leicester, England.
Neighbors and others living in the area said they had called police over the past two or three months because gangs of youths were abusing Asian residents.
Neighbours and others living in the area said they had called police in the past two or three months about gangs of youths abusing Asian residents and reported seeing them kicking cans and climbing on the roofs of bungalows.
They also said some children had thrown football-sized stones at Kohli. The large stones are used to stop people parking on the edges of the cul-de-sac, but several of them were missing when a Daily Mail reporter was in the area.
A neighborThe man, who did not want to give his name for fear of reprisals, said: ‘Over the last two or three months there has been a group of young people shouting and abusing Asian people.
“I’ve seen it, I haven’t always been able to hear exactly what they say, but it’s clear what they do. They’ve called the police. It’s horrible. I don’t know why they are like this, you have to question the way they have been raised.”
Another neighbour, Frank Owen, 50, said: “We’ve only had this problem for a few weeks now with a group of children. They stay up late playing. I heard they were in a bungalow.”
“It’s a dead end, so unless you come here for some reason, there’s not much point unless you’re going to the park.”
The alleged attack happened on Sunday night and left Mr Kohli with serious injuries, before he sadly died last night.
Mr Kohli was walking his dog, Rocky (pictured), in the park when the alleged attack occurred.
Forensic investigators were seen at the crime scene in Braunstone Town on Tuesday.
Police officers are seen entering and leaving the area of the park where the alleged attack occurred.
David Donahue, a 75-year-old retired aeronautical engineer from Pittsburgh, US, who is visiting his sister-in-law, said: “We saw a group of young people kicking a can in the street earlier that day. Well, we heard the noise and then we saw them.
‘My sister-in-law usually walks in the park, but she said she won’t do it now because she doesn’t feel safe.’
Another of Mr Kohil’s neighbours, Harjinder Kalia, 53, said: ‘I have lived here for 35 years, he was a good person, he was always joking, with everyone, not just us, with everyone.
He added: “There is no reason for anyone to do this. Sometimes children fight each other in the park.”
Leicestershire Police have reported the case to the police watchdog due to previous contact with the victim.
