FINAL JOURNEY
Haunting moment grandad, 80, walks dog just seconds before he was beaten to death by killer teens in park
OAP was forced to his knees and battered with slider shoe
THIS is the moment a grandad walked his dog to a park just seconds before he was ambushed and beaten to death by a teen.
Bhim Kohli, 80, had popped out for a walk when he was violently beaten in Franklin Park near Leicester in September last year.
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A 13-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy were today convicted of manslaughter.
Haunting footage has now been released of Bhim walking his beloved dog Rocky on September 1.
He could be seen heading into the park at around 6.18pm unaware of the horror inside.
Just moments later, he was forced to his knees and slapped with the boy's slider while the girl - then aged 12 - filmed it on her phone and laughed.
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Both also hurled racist slurs at Bhim as the schoolgirl "encouraged" her pal to violently attack him.
The girl and boy had entered the park shortly after Bhim with other youngsters before the killing.
When the group saw him, the girl claimed he had tried to hit their friend "with a stick".
As three of the youngsters ran away, the girl remained with the boy as he put a balaclava on to "support him in what was about to happen".
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One video played to the court showed the grandad being slapped with a slider shoe by the boy as the girl laughed and moved closer to film in an act of "pure violence".
At one point, Bhim tragically tried to call one of his grandsons in a cry for help but he did not pick up.
The court heard he also attempted to leave the park but the pair followed him as Bhim desperately tried to defend himself.
The last clip, which was filmed at 6.27pm, showed the dad lying on his side and not moving.
Just 48 seconds later, he had suffered fatal injuries after being subjected to more violence.
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His son Virinder found Bhim on the ground in "obvious pain" with injuries to his left side and his neck.
In his dying moments, the grandad told a paramedic he had been attacked by a boy, who punched and kicked him as he was racially abused.
He also spoke to his daughter Susan Friday, who relived her dad's last seconds as he lay dying.
She told the court: "Whilst by his side, I knelt down and said, 'Dad, what has happened?'
"He screamed, 'My neck. my neck, my neck, lift my neck'.
"This was not his normal tone. He was in agony, almost screaming.
"I have never heard him cry out in pain about anything like that before."
Allotment-loving Bhim was rushed to hospital but sadly couldn't be saved and died the following evening.
He had suffered fractured ribs and a spinal cord injury after an "intense attack".
The teens meanwhile fled the scene and were captured on CCTV running away.
They were later heard "bragging" about what they had done.
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Chillingly, the boy said "he whacked his head off a log", before the girl added: "Oh, I know. I saw that. It goes doosh."
Jurors heard the boy gave different accounts of what happened - claiming he "could not stop kicking" the OAP.
He also said: "I didn’t mean to batter him, it was one hit and then my anger turn in. I regret it man I do.”
The boy searched for Franklin Park on Google the day after the horror and read a news article about Bhim.
He messaged his mum, saying: "Police are looking for me because of Franklin.
" I can't come back tonight, I will explain when I have a chance. I'm sorry."
Asked by a pal if he was "s******* it", he replied "nah, chilling bro" alongside two laughing emojis.
The boy also told one friend "feds know it's me. Got my name and picture" around 25 minutes before Bhim died.
One girl then replied: “He’s 80. You don’t do that to an old man. You don’t do that. You’re vile.”
He was arrested the day after the attack at his home, where police officers found him hiding in a bush.
The teen told police Bhim had taken photos of him and stolen his slider - but failed to mention that he'd struck him with it.
He and the girl also "made up an account" that Bhim had pulled a knife out.
After he was charged with murder, the boy wrote a letter to a "professional" about how he'd been dumped by his girlfriend and "needed anger etc releasing".
When he was told the letter would have to be disclosed to prosecutors as part of the investigation, he replied: "That’s my manslaughter plea gone".
Both teens will be sentenced on May 19 and 20.
Bhim's heartbroken family pay tribute
Daughter Susan Kohli said on behalf of the family: "My dad Bhim Kohli was brutally and cruelly taken away from us when he was out walking our dog Rocky in the park close to our home.
“Dad was 80 years old. He was a devoted life partner to my mother for 55 years. He was a loving dad, grandad, brother, uncle, a retired businessman and a close friend to many, including people who lived in our local community.
“He was an amazing man who loved life. He never took himself seriously, he was good fun to be around and very chatty. Despite his age and how frail he looked, he was healthy and very active. He had three allotment plots where he grew lots of fruit and vegetables and would share them with the family, friends and neighbours. He was the person who knitted our family together and we miss him every second of every day.
“Our house feels so empty without him and will never be the same. The area we have loved for so many years and called ‘home’ feels so different now and we will never feel safe. Having happened only a minute’s walk of where we live is something we cannot get away from and it is a constant reminder. Every time my mum opens the front door she thinks about what happened to her husband.
“Dad knew so many people in the community and he would always have a chat and a joke with them. The community have been nothing but a fantastic support to us and we will be forever grateful to them for their love and generosity. We have taken solace in listening to people talking fondly to us about their dog walking stories with dad.
“On Sunday 1 September we were alerted to what had happened and went to the park to help dad. He was screaming out; he was in that much pain - it was horrendous, we have never seen him like that before. We all thought he would go to hospital to be treated and he would then be fine. We never imagined he wouldn’t return home. My dad passed away before our eyes, surrounded by his family. We were all in floods of tears and in disbelief that an investigation had commenced.
“After my dad’s passing the community held a vigil. I didn’t initially want to go as it felt too much and too soon. I changed my mind at the last minute and attended with a close friend and our family liaison officers. It was very difficult and overwhelming, but the number of flowers and beautiful messages took our breath away. It was very touching, and it felt like the whole community had come together to show strength and unity. It also left us with a feeling of total shock and sadness that something so terrifying had happened in our little park which is used by so many people.
“My mum and I felt that we needed to attend the trial each day to understand the evidence fully. Our family have tried to remain strong, but the truth is inside we feel broken, and it has been so stressful.
“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. The boy, who told witnesses he had anger problems and couldn’t stop, used violence so severe that he broke three of dad’s ribs and neck which caused trauma to his spinal column. Videos of the incident were filmed and shockingly found on the girl’s phone. Dad did not deserve this, and we wouldn’t wish this pain on anyone else.
“One of the videos showed dad on his knees being hit over the head with the boy’s slider. A loud horrible slapping sound is heard when the boy struck dad. Hearing the girl laugh at this assault on dad is utterly disgusting. This sound plays over and over in our heads.
“Also captured on video is dad’s attempt to call for help as he shouted out for his grandson. We didn’t hear his call for help and this upsets us deeply.
“Losing dad in these cruel, violent, and deeply shocking circumstances feels like our hearts have been pulled apart. We can’t put into words the pain we feel every day, and this has magnified during the trial.
“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.”
Susan added: “On behalf of myself and my family I would like to express thanks to all the witnesses and experts who provided statements that helped the police piece together what happened to dad. We want to especially highlight the children who gave evidence. They were so brave under difficult circumstances, and we will be forever grateful to them and their parents.
“We would also like to extend our thanks to everyone who worked so hard to get justice for dad. From the police investigation team – including the senior investigating officers, the officer in the case and the family liaison officers who have been with us every step of the way. Also, to the CPS and the prosecution team, particularly Mr Sandhu KC, for not leaving any stone unturned when presenting the case.”
Leicester Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following prior contact with Bhim.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit Murder Investigation Team, said: “The circumstances surrounding this incident are truly tragic and heartbreaking.
“Bhim Kohli was simply doing what he did every day, walking his dog on the park that was just yards from his own front door. But instead of being able to enjoy an evening stroll with Rocky on a warm summer’s day, he was confronted by a teenage boy, who was encouraged by a teenage girl, attacked him and left him in agony on the floor.
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"Sadly, the resultant injuries were fatal and Mr Kohli’s death has left not only a family grieving the loss of a beloved husband, father and grandfather but the wider community too.
“The age of the defendants in the case has added to the devastating circumstances surrounding this incident and complexities in the case. They will have to deal with the enormity that their actions resulted in a man losing his life and the consequences this now brings.”
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