Two suspects get bail in killing of Austin man
A Greek judge has ordered six suspects in the beating death of Bakari Henderson be held without bail, but granted bail to two other men and delayed a hearing for a third until Friday.
The six defendants that were denied bail will now await trial in Greek prison cells on charges they beat the 22-year-old to death outside of a bar in Laganas, a tourist town on the island of Zakynthos, pending Friday’s outcome. Bail for the two men who were released was set at 5,000 euros, or about $5,700.
The second day of bail hearings came as Henderson’s family prepares to bury him. A memorial service in East Austin is scheduled for Friday and his funeral is set for Saturday. Both will be closed to the media.
Thursday’s hearings came a day after video of the attack captured by security cameras from nearby businesses was publicly released for the first time.
The video showed Henderson running from a group of men before being tackled by one of them, who threw him onto a parked car. Others in the group then joined in, while some attempted to stop the beating.
Greek police said they believe 10-15 men were involved in the early morning mob attack, which left Henderson with fatal injuries to his head. They have arrested and charged nine men so far with intentional homicide, which could carry a life sentence.
Henderson traveled to Greece on a trip that was both celebratory — he had just graduated from the University of Arizona — and business. He planned to use picturesque Zakynthos as the backdrop for the photo shoot that would help launch the clothing line he’d long dreamed of starting.