Court of Appeal Reviews 15-Year-Old Manslaughter Sentence in Bhim Kohli Killing

The seven-year sentence of a 15-year-old boy convicted of manslaughter for the racially motivated attack on 80-year-old Bhim Kohli in Leicestershire is under review by the Court of Appeal after being flagged as potentially unduly lenient. Kohli was attacked while walking his dog, suffering fatal spinal cord injuries following a prolonged assault where he was punched, kicked, slapped with a shoe, and racially abused. The boy’s co-defendant, a 13-year-old girl who filmed and encouraged the attack, received a three-year youth rehabilitation order and a curfew, but her sentence is not being reviewed. The Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP, expressed shock and sympathy for Kohli’s family, endorsing the referral of the boy’s sentence for reconsideration. Local MPs have criticized the disparity in sentencing, particularly the non-custodial sentence for the girl, calling for a more consistent response to the severity of the crime. Kohli’s family has voiced disappointment that the sentences do not reflect the gravity of the attack.