Police Information Dog Walker Attack
Daughter’s Anger as IOPC Clears Police Over Father’s Manslaughter
Table of Contents
The daughter of a man fatally attacked in Leicester has voiced her frustration with both Leicestershire Police and the Self-reliant Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), despite a report concluding police action did not contribute to his death. Jaswant Singh Kohli, 64, died after being attacked in franklin Park, Leicester, in August 2024. A teenage boy was convicted of his manslaughter and is currently awaiting a sentence review.
family’s Concerns over Police Response
Navpreet Kohli believes her father might still be alive if police had acted more swiftly on reports of anti-social behavior in the area prior to the attack. She is critical of the IOPC for not requesting key details during their examination.
“It worries me that the IOPC didn’t ask for that information,” Ms Kohli said, expressing deep disappointment with the findings.
She strongly disputes the report’s conclusion that police could have done nothing differently. “It comes down to the delays… to take the required action,” she explained. “I think my dad would still be here. There’s a possibility that my dad would still be here and that’s what makes me angry.”
Ms Kohli feels the report unfairly absolves the police of responsibility. “Your report is constantly saying there was nothing that leicestershire Police could have done. There’s a lot that they could have done, but they chose unfortunately not to. leicestershire Police need to hold some accountability.”
CCTV footage captured the moments leading up to the fatal attack on Mr Kohli, highlighting the vulnerability he faced.
Police and IOPC Response
Ch Supt Jonathan Starbuck, of Leicestershire Police, acknowledged the concerns raised by Ms kohli regarding anti-social behaviour in Franklin Park during the summer of 2024.”We continue to monitor the area of Franklin Park and have engaged with the community through a local survey,drop-in centres,engagement with local schools,youth work and proactive policing patrols,” he stated.
The IOPC defended its review of the Leicestershire Police investigation, stating they agreed with the force’s finding that officers had proactively investigated reported matters.
A spokesperson for the IOPC said: “We agreed with their finding that police officers did proactively investigate matters reported to them and there was nothing to indicate any officers or police staff committed a criminal offense or behaved in a manner justifying disciplinary proceedings.
“And we agreed with learning identified by the force in respect of accurately recording and tagging incidents of anti-social behaviour, thus ensuring incidents can be dealt with appropriately and to support the long-term management and deterrence of ASB.”
Sentence Review and Ongoing Legal Action
The lenient sentence handed down to the boy convicted of Mr Kohli’s manslaughter is now under review. The Attorney General’s Office has referred the case under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, believing the original sentence did not adequately reflect the severity of the crime.
A hearing to potentially increase the boy’s sentence is scheduled at the Court of Appeal on Wednesday, offering a glimmer of hope for justice for the Kohli family. This legal challenge underscores the widespread concern surrounding the case and the desire for a more appropriate outcome.