An 80-year-old man, Bhim Kohli, was tragically killed following a violent assault in Franklin Park, Braunstone Town, near Leicester.
The shocking incident involved a teenage boy who attacked Mr Kohli while a young girl stood by and filmed the brutal event. Both teens have since been convicted of manslaughter.
Elderly Man Fatally Attacked in Leicester After Reporting Prior Racist Incident
What adds to the outrage is the fact that Mr Kohli had reported a similar racially motivated attack just weeks before. He had informed police after witnessing two white boys racially abusing an Asian man and hurling a large rock at him, in the same park where he would later be fatally attacked.
The fatal attack happened in September when Mr Kohli was out walking his dog. He was punched and kicked by a 14-year-old boy while a 12-year-old girl filmed the assault on her phone. The sustained violence proved too much, and Mr Kohli passed away the following day.
The court later heard how the boy used a slider shoe during the attack while the girl encouraged the assault, laughing throughout. Shockingly, the same girl had previously recorded videos of other racially abusive incidents involving Mr Kohli and other Asian residents.
Neighbour Linda Haigh, a long-time friend of Mr Kohli, also witnessed the earlier racist incident in August and had contacted police. She had warned them that youth behaviour in the area was becoming dangerously aggressive and racially charged. Her warning, she says, was not taken seriously.
Another victim, a man in his 40s, recounted how two boys hurled stones at him and attempted to strike him with a large wooden post while shouting racist abuse. Mr Kohli, along with his daughter and Ms Haigh, had intervened during that incident. The boys, however, were not arrested until after Mr Kohli’s death.
“I was shocked that this kind of behaviour was still around society,” said the man. “It’s just become more violent.”
Leicestershire Police admitted to shortcomings in how anti-social behaviour reports were logged. Chief Superintendent Jonathan Starbuck acknowledged that there had been two prior reports involving youths before Mr Kohli’s death, but more incidents only came to light afterwards.
An internal review and a review by the Independent Office for Police Conduct found no misconduct or direct missed opportunities that could have prevented Mr Kohli’s death. Nevertheless, the force has since increased patrols, initiated school outreach programmes, and conducted community surveys.
The boy and girl involved in Mr Kohli’s death, now 15 and 13 respectively, were both convicted of manslaughter and are awaiting sentencing. During the trial, it emerged that the girl had filmed another Asian man being racially abused and having a water balloon thrown at him.
Separately, the boys involved in the August incident were charged with racially aggravated assault but received deferred youth cautions — a decision that has sparked further public anger. Critics argue the lenient response failed to send a clear message.
“I feel that we’ve been totally let down,” said Ms Haigh. “I don’t think it was taken serious enough. I think they should have acted on it.”
The racially motivated youth violence has left many residents, especially elderly and minority members of the community, living in fear. The man attacked in August said he now discourages his father from walking in the park, especially after dark.
“You worry about everyone now — your parents, your nephews. It’s just become more threatening,” he said.
This tragedy has reignited calls for robust action against racially motivated youth violence. Community leaders demand tougher enforcement, more support for victims, and better preventative measures in vulnerable areas.
