Two children on trial for Leicester pensioner's murder

A 15-year-old boy is on trial for the murder of Bhim Kohli, an 80-year-old man who died after being attacked in a park near Leicester. The incident occurred on September 1 last year, when Kohli was walking his dog. He sustained serious injuries, including a spinal injury and broken ribs, and died in the hospital the next day. In court, the boy admitted to hitting Kohli but denied that he intended to hurt him severely. He described feeling “panicked” when he saw a police car shortly after the attack. He testified that he asked to swap shoes with a friend, claiming he was not trying to escape. The boy also said he slapped Kohli "out of instinct" during a struggle, asserting he acted to defend a 13-year-old girl who was with him. This girl filmed part of the attack and is accused of encouraging the violence. During cross-examination, the prosecution pressed the boy on messages he sent to friends about the incident. In one message, he mentioned that he "banged" Kohli and later claimed he lied about the details to avoid being seen in a bad light. The boy also described regrets and feelings of anger in letters to his intervention worker, although he maintained he only "pushed" Kohli and did not punch or kick him. The trial is ongoing.