Two held in Magaluf over killing of NI holidaymaker
POLICE in Magaluf have arrested two people over the death of Northern Ireland tourist Aaron Henderson.
Officers said a British man aged 35 is suspected of killing Aaron and a 37-year-old Spaniard is suspected of trying to cover up the crime.
The unnamed British man was held on Tuesday afternoon at the bar where he works in the resport.
The second man, a manager at the same unidentified bar, was held yesterday morning.
Aaron (30), from Coleraine, lost his fight for life in hospital on May 1 after suffering head injures in a street attack on April 27. He was assaulted in the early hours of April 27 at the end of Punta Ballena Street.
Investigators from Majorca’s Civil Guard force were said to have spoken to a witness who told them he saw Aaron being pushed to the ground and then kicked in the head in the notorious party resort.
Police said: “The Civil Guard has arrested a British man aged 35 as the author of a crime of homicide.
“They have also arrested a Spanish man aged 37 on suspicion of concealing the crime. In the early hours of April 27, a tourist was assaulted in Magaluf.
“As a result of the beating he received he had to be transferred to Son Espases Hospital in Palma and died in the hospital on May
1. Civil Guard officers launched an investigation to determine what had happened.
“After interviewing several people who said they had witnessed the incident, carrying out other enquiries and receiving the results of the autopsy, they determined it could be a homicide and not an accident.
“Investigators managed to identify the possible author as a result of the enquiries and arrested him on Tuesday afternoon at the bar in Magaluf where he works as a manager.
“This morning Civil Guard arrested another man who also works as a manager at the same premises on suspicion of concealment.”
Both suspects are expected to appear before a judge in a closed court hearing in the next 24 hours.
The judge will decide whether to remand them or release them in custody as part of an ongoing criminal probe.
Shopkeeper’s son Aaron was on holiday with his girlfriend Danielle Baxter. It is understood that on the night of the attack he decided to carry on partying after she decided to go back to their holiday accommodation early.
Danielle posted an emotional tribute on social media after his death, saying: “I love you Aaron ‘Hendy’ Henderson always and forever, you’ve made me the happiest I’ve ever been in my entire life.”
Aaron’s dad Paul revealed their family had decided to donate his organs so his death “wouldn’t be in vain”. He told the Belfast Telegraph: “It’s hard for the family to stay strong. It will never get easier, but we just want to get Aaron home.
“It’s been a nightmare having him out there all this extra time, especially with his children waiting.”
He described his son as a bubbly character who was highly popular with customers at the family wholesale business in Coleraine.
Mr Henderson told how the family made the decision to donate his organs.
“They pronounced his death on May 1, as they were keeping his heart going even though he was brain dead,” he said.
“I told a boy at our hotel reception we’d donated his organs. He came round and opened his shirt, telling us when he was six months old he got a new heart.
“It was a hard decision, but we knew it was the right thing to do.”