Latest news with #dogwalker
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Girl who filmed killing of pensioner is spared jail
The family of an 80-year-old dog walker has said the sentences handed to his teenage killers 'do not reflect the severity of the crime', after a 13-year-old girl convicted of the attack walked free from court. Bhim Kohli was fatally attacked by a 15-year-old boy as racist abuse was shouted at him, while the girl filmed the killing on her mobile phone. At Leicester Crown Court on Thursday, the boy was ordered to serve seven years in prison while the girl was handed a three-month rehabilitation order. The sentences stand in contrast to that of Lucy Connolly, a childminder married to a Conservative councillor, who received a 31-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to inciting racial hatred with a tweet posted in the wake of the Southport murders. The girl had filmed a series of video clips in which Mr Kohli was slapped with the shoe by the masked boy and another where the pensioner lay motionless on the ground, the court previously heard. Mr Justice Turner said it had been a 'cowardly and violent attack' on an elderly man, who did ' nothing to deserve ' what happened to him. Mr Kohli's daughter, Susan, called for the parents of the killers to face court themselves after the sentences were handed down. She said: 'The parents have a part to play in it because, from what we heard in court, the children were out at crazy times. They were on the phones at gone midnight. These are children of the age of 12 and 14 [at the time of the killing]. 'How can a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old do something like this to an old-age pensioner? Do they not think, what if this happened to their parents, their grandparents? It is adults taking responsibility. Hold the parents accountable. Then bring them to court as well.' A six-week trial heard that Mr Kohli called out for help while walking his dog Rocky when he was assaulted by the balaclava-clad boy, while the girl laughed and filmed at Franklin Park, Braunstone Town, near Leicester on Sept 1 last year. Both children denied their part in the grandfather's death but were convicted of manslaughter by a jury at the same court in April. The boy was cleared of Mr Kohli's murder. The public gallery was packed with members of Mr Kohli's family for the day-long sentencing hearing. Prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu KC said there was 'deliberate humiliation' of Mr Kohli during the attack, which came against a backdrop of 'bullying and antagonising' of the pensioner by other local youths. Mr Kohli's children found him lying on the ground in agony when he told his daughter that he had been called a 'P---' during the attack. In a victim impact statement, Mr Kohli's daughter, said: 'He was in so much pain, he was screaming out. It was horrendous and we have never seen him like this.' She said the family had been left 'broken' by what had happened to her father, adding: 'They left my dad on his own, helpless and in pain.' 'Haunted' relatives Simranjit Kohli, Mr Kohli's grandson, said in a statement read by Mr Sandhu that he was 'haunted' by his grandfather's death. 'I was the first one out of my family at the scene. Not a day goes by when I think, if I were minutes earlier I could have stopped what happened.' Mr Justice Turner said the attack had been 'wicked', and that evidence that suggested Mr Kohli told his daughter he was called a 'P---' during the attack was right, but that evidence from their mobile phones did not show they held 'general racist views'. He said: 'It was a lazy but very hurtful insult.' Addressing the boy, who was 14 at the time of the attack, the judge added: 'I'm sure you regret that he died because of what you did to Mr Kohli, but you still say it wasn't your fault. 'It was your fault and the sooner you realise this, the better.' Reasons for sentences He accepted that while the girl, who was 12 at the time of the attack, had encouraged the boy's behaviour, she did not know he would use 'anything like the level of violence he did'. Giving his reasons for the sentences, the judge said the girl had not played a 'leading role' in the killing, and did 'not hurt Kohli directly'. He said there were a number of mitigating factors, including no previous convictions and a troubled upbringing, and that a short custodial sentence would do more harm than good. Alongside the youth rehabilitation order, she will also be under an electronically monitored curfew for six months. The judge told the boy he did not find he attacked Mr Kohli due to his race, even though the court heard he used racist language. 'You made a cowardly attack on an elderly man,' he said. Ms Kohli, speaking after the sentencing of her father's teenage killers, said she is 'angry and disappointed' that their sentence does not reflect the severity of the crime. Ms Kohli said: 'I believe on that day the two teenagers made a choice. The teenage boy chose to attack my dad and the girl chose to film him being attacked. They knew what they were doing. 'I feel angry and disappointed that the sentence they have both received today does not, I believe, reflect the severity of the crime they committed. 'However, I understand the judge has guidelines, but they have taken a life, and, as a result, our lives have been changed forever. 'When they are released, they still have their full lives ahead of them. They can rebuild their lives. We can't.'
The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
Judge describes ‘violent outbursts' that killed dog walker yards from his home
A judge described the 'two separate violent outbursts' by two teenagers which killed a 'vulnerable' dog walker near his home. Bhim Kohli was walking his dog when he was racially abused, punched, kicked, and slapped in the face with a shoe in a brutal park attack in Braunstone Town near Leicester on September 1, 2024. The 80-year-old suffered a broken neck and fractured ribs and later died in hospital. In his sentencing remarks at Leicester Crown Court, Mr Justice Turner said it had been a 'cowardly and violent attack' on an elderly man who did 'nothing to deserve' what happened to him. A 15-year-old boy was ordered to serve seven years' detention and a 13-year-old girl was handed a three-year youth rehabilitation order.
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Schoolboy, 15, who racially abused and killed dog walker metres from his home in 'wicked' attack is locked up for seven years
A 15-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl were sentenced today for the manslaughter of an elderly dog walker near his home. Bhim Kohli, 80, was slapped in the face with a slider shoe and kicked and punched by the balaclava-clad male at a park near Leicester, while the female filmed and laughed. Mr Kohli had been racially abused, laughed at by the girl and left on the ground before his family found him severely injured on the evening of September 1 last year. He died in hospital the next day having suffered a broken neck and fractured ribs. Today at Leicester Crown Court, the boy and girl - who cannot be named - were sentenced by Mr Justice Turner over the attack at Franklin Park in Braunstone Town. The boy was sentenced to seven years' detention in a young offender institution. The girl's sentence is awaited. Beginning his sentencing remarks, the judge praised the family of Mr Kohli for their 'dignity' throughout the trial. He said: 'No-one could fail to be deeply moved by what his daughter, in court, and his grandson, in a statement, have said. Their grief and anger will cast a long shadow over all of their lives.' Mr Justice Turner, who referred to the 15-year-old boy as D1 and the 13-year-old as D2, said what the pair had done was 'wicked' and Mr Kohli had not deserved what had happened to him. Earlier during the hearing, in a statement read out by prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu KC, Mr Kohli's grandson Simranjit Kohli said he had been left wondering if his grandfather may have survived if he had got there sooner after he cried out for help. He said: 'My grandad was one of the most important factors of my life. He's the main reason I am who I am. My story revolves around him and with him being taken away, it's as though the author won't be able to read his own book. 'It's painful for me and my family that we will never get to see if he is proud. We won't get to see the smile on his face when his grandkids get a house, get a car, then get married and have kids of their own. 'I was the first one out of my family at the scene. Not a day goes by when I think if I were minutes earlier I could have stopped what happened. 'There is, of course, sadness and sorrow, there's also hate, anger and rage. Everywhere I go I'm haunted by the thought I could be with him if things had happened differently that day.' Reading her own statement to the packed courtroom, Mr Kohli's daughter Susan Kohli said her family are surrounded by 'consistent sadness' since he died. She said: 'They left my dad on his own, helpless and in pain. 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 - we have never felt hurt and sadness like this. 'My mum, a gentle human being, has found herself saying she would like the children subjected to the same treatment they gave her husband to see how they feel.' She added: 'My mum and I felt we needed to attend the trial each day to understand the evidence fully. 'We tried to remain strong but, the truth is, inside we feel broken and it has been stressful listening to the enormity of what happened and what he was subjected to.' Describing the moments she found her father injured on the ground in the park just yards from the family home, Ms Kohli said: 'He was in so much pain, he was screaming out. It was horrendous and we have never seen him like this. 'We knew he was very poorly and in severe pain, but we thought he would go to Leicester Royal Infirmary and be fine. 'We never imagined he would never return home. We were later told the shocking news he was no longer able to take the medication that was keeping him alive. 'He passed away before our eyes, surrounded by his family who were in floods of tears and disbelief. 'Due to him being killed in these circumstances and being involved in a criminal investigation, dad was unable to donate his organs which were always his wishes. It pains me we were unable to meet his wishes.' Mr Sandhu told the hearing that there was 'deliberate humiliation' of Mr Kohli when he was fatally attacked in the park. The prosecutor addressed the court and said: 'The evidence as a whole, in our submission, demonstrates (the boy) pushed, punched and kicked Bhim Kohli and he did so out of anger. 'The evidence we have cited also leads to the conclusion that in this case, death was caused in the course of an unlawful act which carried a high risk of death or grievous bodily harm which ought to have been obvious to (the boy). 'There was deliberate humiliation of Bhim Kohli when (the boy) used violence in the presence of (the girl) and through (the girl's) filming of that violence. 'We submit (the boy) had a leading role. The evidence establishes (the boy) was clearly encouraged to do what he did.' Defending the boy, who was 14 at the time he carried out the attack, barrister Balraj Bhatia KC said he was an 'immature young boy' but that he had shown genuine remorse for what he had done and had made 'significant strides' in bettering himself. Mr Bhatia said: 'He had no history or gripe with Mr Kohli, he wasn't even aware of his existence before the incident. He never intended Mr Kohli to die - this has affected him.' He said the injuries suffered by Mr Kohli - which the boy claimed during the trial were caused when he fell on top of the elderly dog walker - could have happened if he had fallen elsewhere. He said: 'Had Mr Kohli simply fallen in his allotment, because of his pre-existing conditions, that would be sufficient to cause death. 'The injuries are consistent with the medical evidence that falling on top of Mr Kohli, which has always been the assertion as far as the boy is concerned, following a forceful push, would be consistent with those fractures to the ribs.' Jeremy Benson KC, defending the girl who was aged 12 when Mr Kohli was killed, said she has shown positive signs for rehabilitation and there would be a 'severe and harmful' impact on her mental health if she was handed a custodial sentence. Mr Benson told the court: 'We submit that it was never the prosecution's case that (the girl's) intent was identical to (the boy's). We submit that she had no intention to cause physical harm of any sort. 'We submit she played a minor role. She used no violence herself. We say that there is no evidence that she used racist language. 'She has demonstrated, between the date of the original arrest and her conviction, that she can remain in the community without posing a risk to others. 'We submit that there is a clear and realistic prospect of rehabilitation. We submit that a custodial sentence would have a severe and harmful impact on (the girl), both in terms of the trauma to her and her mental health.'
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Murder accused 'dumped Anita Rose's phone in Ipswich to put police off'
A man accused of murdering a dog walker dumped her phone to "put the police off his trail", a court Christopher Paxton KC told jurors at Ipswich Crown Court that news coverage about the killing of grandmother Anita Rose sent a signal to Roy Barclay that he needed to get rid of her mother-of-six, aged 57, was found injured near a sewage works in Brantham, Suffolk, on July 24 last year. She died four days later in hospital from traumatic head Barclay, 56, of no fixed address, denies her murder. Last summer, the attack attracted a lot of media attention, with Suffolk Police calling on the public to help them locate some of her belongings, which had been taken. On Friday, the prosecution said Mr Barclay's internet history showed he had an extraordinary level of interest in news stories about the Paxton told the jury this was because "his very future and freedom depended on what happened next - Because he was Anita's attacker".The prosecution said the publicity "was a signal" to Mr Barclay that he needed to get rid of her jury was then played CCTV footage, which the prosecution said showed the defendant walking to a seating area off Upper Orwell Street in Ipswich and leaving a carrier bag containing Ms Rose's court was told a couple then picked up the phone minutes later and turned it on, which in turn alerted Suffolk prosecution said Mr Barclay had also looked up local prisons online, which was a sign of him wondering which prison he would end up in if trial continues. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
29-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Man accused of murdering dog walker ‘living off-grid to avoid prison recall'
A man accused of murdering a dog-walker was living off-grid to avoid being recalled to prison, a court has heard. Roy Barclay, 56, subjected Anita Rose to a 'vicious and brutal attack' Christopher Paxton KC, prosecuting, told the trial Opening the case on Thursday, he said Ms Rose, a 57-year-old mother-of-six, left her home in Brantham, Suffolk, to walk her dog, Bruce, on July 24 last year. He said: 'After she left home and before 6.25am, Anita Rose was subject to a vicious and brutal attack. with numerous kicks, stamps and blows being delivered to her face, head and body. 'Found by passers-by, help was called for but on July 28 Anita Rose died in Addenbrooke's Hospital from the injuries she received.' Mr Paxton told Ipswich Crown Court that 'no eyewitnesses saw the incident'. He added: 'You will hear that Roy Barclay had no fixed address and lived mostly in the countryside, wandering the fields and lanes, sleeping in various makeshift camps. 'He lived off-grid because for two years, Roy Barclay had been unlawfully at large. He had been on the run trying to avoid the police and authorities to try and avoid being recalled back to prison.' The court heard a pink jacket, worn by Ms Rose on the day she was attacked, was found at one of Barclay's makeshift camps. He said Barclay kept the jacket 'as a trophy' and it had his semen on the neckline. Mr Paxton said Barclay's walking boots, which 'amounted to the murder weapon', were found at the same camp. He also said there was 'support for the conclusion that the marks on Anita's face were made by these boots'. He said Ms Rose's phone case was also found there, and her Samsung earbuds were located at a different makeshift camp Barclay had used. The barrister said Barclay 'carries dog biscuits with him and is a dog lover'. He said he tied the dog lead around Ms Rose's leg 'to stop Bruce, the dog, running off'. He said Barclay made various internet searches after the attack, including 'how are outside objects swabbed for DNA' and 'can barbed wire be swabbed for DNA'. Ms Rose's body was found near a barbed wire fence by the Brantham sewage works by Jerome Tassel, who had been cycling to Manningtree train station early in the morning. Mr Paxton described Barclay as 'cunning and resourceful'. The sewage works had washing facilities and a toilet for those who worked there, which was why the location was of 'particular significance' to him. He said Richard Jones, Ms Rose's 'long-term partner', was a lorry driver who worked away during the week. The couple 'would speak frequently', and the last time that Mr Jones spoke to his partner was in a phone call made to her at 5.24am on July 24 lasting three minutes and 42 seconds. The 'force used and generated' in the attack resulted in the type of brain injuries 'often seen in high-speed car accidents', Mr Paxton added. Barclay, of no fixed address, denies murdering Ms Rose who died from traumatic head injuries. The trial is set to last eight weeks.
