A 14-year-old boy has been charged with murder in relation to the brutal death of an elderly man metres from his home while he walked his dog. 

Bhim Sen Kohli, 80, was 'seriously' assaulted while walking his dog in Franklin Park in Braunstone Town, Leicester at around 6.30pm on Sunday and later died in hospital. 

After Leicestershire Police, the force investigating the tragic death, yesterday said that five children, a boy and a girl aged 14 and two girls and one boy aged 12, were being questioned, they later said that all but the 14-year-old boy have been released without charge. 

The force confirmed yesterday, following a post-mortem, that Mr Kohli died 'of a neck injury', though added that further tests were pending. 

Mr Kohli's wife, 73-year-old Satinder, was yesterday seen laying flowers at a memorial near where he died along with friends, family and Rocky, the dog he was walking when he was attacked. 

His family yesterday said in a statement via Leicestershire Police:  'Bhim was a loving husband, dad and grandad. He was also a son, brother and uncle. He adored his grandkids with all his heart and loved spending time with them. 

'He really was such a loving, caring person whose life was centred around his family.

 He has always been a very hardworking man and even at the age of 80 he was still very active. One of his great passions was his allotment, he would go every day to tend to his plots and was so proud of them. He also enjoyed walking the family dog Rocky on the park many times a day.

'Bhim loved to laugh. He was always very happy and talkative, the joker of the family and always loved to outsmart us with a smile. Our family have lived in the same house in Braunstone for 40 years, so he was very well known in the community - we have been overwhelmed by the messages and support from many who knew him.

'Our hearts have been completely broken. We are now pulling together as a family to try and support each other through the most difficult time imaginable and would ask for privacy while we do this.' 

Neighbours and others living in the area said they had called the police in the last two or three months over gangs of youths abusing Asian residents and reported seeing them kicking cans and climbing on bungalow roofs.

They also said children had thrown football-sized rocks at Mr Kohli. The large stones are used to stop people parking on grass verges in the quiet cul de sac but several were missing when a Daily Mail reporter was in the area. 

One neighbour, who did not want to give his name for fear of reprisals, said: 'Over the last two or three months there has been a group of youngsters, shouting and abusing Asian people.

'I have seen it, I haven't been always able to hear exactly what they are saying but it is clear what they are doing. The police have been called. It is awful. I don't know why the are like this, you have to question the way they have been raised.'

Another neighbour, 50-year-old Frank Owen, said: 'It's only the last few weeks we've had this trouble with a bunch of kids. They've been playing up late at night. I've heard they were on a bungalow.'

'It's a cul de sac so unless you are coming here for a reason there is not much point unless you are going to the park.' 

David Donahue, 75, a retired aircraft engineer from Pittsburgh in the US, who is visiting his sister-in-law, said: 'We saw a group of youngsters kicking a can down the street earlier in the day. Well, we heard the noise then saw them. 

'My sister-in-law regularly walks in the park but has said she won't now - she doesn't feel safe.'

Another one of Mr Kohil's neighbours, Harjinder Kalia, 53, said: 'I've lived here for 35 years, he was a nice person, he was always joking, to everyone not just with us, everybody.

She added: 'There is no reason why anyone would do this. Sometimes children would fight with each other in the park.'

Leicestershire Police has reported itself to the police watchdog due to previous contact with the victim.