Boy, 15 and girl, 13, found guilty of killing elderly dog walker

Bhim Sen Kohli - the 80-year-old dog walker who was allegedly kicked to death by a group of children in a park has been remembered as ???kind and considerate???. Five children including a boy and two girls aged 12 have been arrested over Bhim Sen Kohli???s alleged murder. picture taken from his daughter's FB and supplied by Claire Duffin — Bhim Kohli died the day after the ‘serious assault’ (Picture: Facebook)

Two teenagers have been found guilty of killing an 80-year-old dog walker yards from his home.

The 13-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to their ages, have been convicted of the manslaughter of Bhim Kohli.

The defendants appeared upset as the jury returned the guilty verdict at Leicester crown court.

Bhim died on September 2 of last year, a day after the ‘serious assault’ while walking his dog in Franklin Park, not far from his home in Braunstone Town.

During the attack Bhim 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.

Bhim Kohli was well known in his community (Picture: Family Handout/PA Wire)

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.’

Wife Stander,73, (L) at Franklin Park, Leics., where her husband Bhim Kohli, 80, was 'seriously' assaulted in Franklin Park at around 6.30pm on Sunday. - Pic Bruce Adams / Copy DUFFIN - 3/9/24 NOTE - Id confirmed by neighbour Nigel Morris — Bhim’s wife Stander (L) viewing floral tributes left at the scene (Picture: BRUCE ADAMS/DAILY MAIL)

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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