A 12-year-old girl has been charged with manslaughter after an 80-year-old dog walker was ‘kicked to death’ just a few metres from his front door.
Grandfather Bhim Kohli died in hospital after being injured in a park in Braunstone Town in September, Leicestershire Police said.
The ‘caring and loving’ pensioner was ‘seriously’ assaulted by a ‘group of youths’ while walking his dog in Franklin Park at around 6.30pm on September 1 and he was a mere 30 second walk away from his home.
The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is due to appear at Youth Court sitting at Leicester Magistrates’ Court today.
A 15-year-old boy was charged with murder three days after Mr Kohli was injured and is due to appear at Leicester Crown Court later this week.
Mr Kohli’s 1970s semi is the second to last house before the park entrance, just yards from where he was attacked. He would regularly walk his 15-year-old black and tan crossbreed dog, Rocky, in the park.
Neighbours and others living in the area said they had called the police in the two or three months prior to Mr Kohli’s death over gangs of youths abusing Asian residents and reported seeing them kicking cans and climbing on bungalow roofs.
Mr Kohli was a retired factory owner and leaves behind his devastated wife, three children and two grandchildren.
Grandfather Bhim Kohli was ‘seriously’ assaulted by a ‘group of youths’ while walking his dog
Mr Kohli’s 1970s semi is the second to last house before the park entrance
Pictured is Bhim Kohli’s beloved dog Rocky
A post-mortem found he died as a result of a neck injury pending further tests.
Leicestershire Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to ‘prior contact’ between officers and Bhim.
The force said in a statement: ‘The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with manslaughter and is due to appear at Leicester Youth Court sitting at Leicester Magistrates’ Court today.
‘A 15-year-old boy has already been charged with the murder of Mr Kohli.’
Mr Kohli’s family previously paid tribute in a touching statement: ‘Bhim was a loving husband, dad and grandad. He was also a son, brother and uncle. 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.
Police at the scene in Franklin Park after the pensioner was assaulted in September
Mr Kohli was walking his dog, Rocky (pictured), in the park when the alleged attack happened
Grandfather Bhim Kohli died in hospital after being injured in a park in Braunstone Town in September, Leicestershire Police said
Flowers and tributes to Bhim Kohli are left near the Bramble Way entrance to Franklin Park
Police officers were pictured entering and leaving the area of the park after the attack
‘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.’
His daughter previously said that her father had been left with neck and spine injuries after the attack, and had been scheduled to undergo surgery before he died.