News, Leicester
The daughter of an 80-year-old man who died after being racially abused and assaulted in a park has called the sentence given to his 15-year-old killer “unanswerable”, adding tougher sentences for young offenders are needed.
Bhim Kohli died in hospital a day after being attacked while walking his dog Rocky at Franklin Park in Braunstone Town, Leicestershire, in September.
On 5 June, a 15-year-old boy was sentenced to seven years in custody for manslaughter, while a 13-year-old girl was given a three-year youth rehabilitation order and made subject to a six-month curfew for the same offence.
Speaking to Breakfast, Susan Kohli said “adult crime” should be punished accordingly.
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu KC said Mr Kohli was subjected to a “seven-and-a-half minute period of continuing aggression” at the park.
The boy racially abused Mr Kohli, attacked him and slapped him in the face with a slider shoe, while the girl encouraged the assault and laughed as she filmed it on her phone.
The attack left Mr Kohli with three broken ribs and other fractures, but Mr Sandhu KC said the fatal injury was to his spinal cord, caused by a spine fracture.
The boy and girl were convicted of manslaughter in April.
Mrs Kohli said: “We are having so many incidents and crime reports that involve youngsters and they know that because they’re youngsters, they’re not going to serve the full weight of the law, because it’s half an adult sentence.
“But you choose to do an adult crime, so why not be punished accordingly? Yes, the boy has been sentenced to seven years, on good behaviour three and a half years – he’s served nine months of that already.
“He’s going to be out in two years and nine months for taking my dad’s life – it’s just unanswerable.
“It needs to change, and I’m hoping we’re able to try and get that change to hold the young offenders accountable for what they do.”
Mid Leicestershire MP Peter Bedford and Alberto Costa, MP for South Leicestershire, have written to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) calling for the sentences to be reviewed.
The AGO previously told the it had received several requests to review the sentences given to the pair, who cannot be named due to their ages.
If the Attorney General and Solicitor General agree the sentence appears unduly lenient, they can ask the Court of Appeal to review it.
The AGO said it was still within the statutory 28-day period for referrals to the Court of Appeal.
Lord Edward Garnier, the former solicitor general for England and Wales, said the reaction of Mrs Kohli was “entirely understandable”.
However, the former MP for Harborough added: “Parliament has said, by Act of Parliament, that the principle aim of the youth justice system is to prevent offending by children and young people and in sentencing to consider the welfare of the child or young person who’s being sentenced.
“Those won’t be welcomed words to the victim’s family, of course they won’t, but that’s what the judge has to look at.”
During the sentencing hearing at Leicester Crown Court, judge Mr Justice Turner told the 15-year-old he had “made a cowardly attack on an elderly man”.
However he said that there were mitigating features, including no previous convictions, and added the teenager’s home had not given him the best start.
He also told the girl her role was “not a minor part” but felt a short custodial sentence would do more harm than good.
