Man charged with Bakari Henderson's death claims innocence

Man charged with Bakari Henderson's death claims innocence

A Serbian man charged in the beating death of American tourist Bakari Henderson claimed he was an innocent bystander in the 'wrong place at the wrong time' after he was released on bail.

Nenad Jovanovic, who was released on bail with another Serb, said the two did not participate in the mob that was captured on CCTV footage attacking Henderson on the Greek island of Zakynthos.

The 22-year-old Jovanovic told B92: 'I saw big chaos, pushing around, nothing else. I feel bad that we were there in the first place.'

Nine people were arrested and charged with intentional homicide after a fight broke out over Henderson's selfie with a waitress at the Bar Code bar in the tourist area of Laganas, according to Greek police spokesman Theodoros Chronopoul os.

Six other suspects - a Greek bartender, a British citizen of Serbian origin, and four other Serbs - are jailed pending trial.

The last of the nine suspects is slated to appear before an investigating judge on Sunday before a decision is made about whether he will be held pending trial or released on bail.

Henderson, who had just graduated from the University of Arizona in May, was in Greece doing a photoshoot to launch his own fashion line, his family said.

Nenad Jovanovic (left), who was released on bail along with another Serb, said the two did not participate in the mob that was captured on CCTV footage attacking Bakari Henderson (right)

Nine people were arrested and charged with intentional homicide after a fight broke out over Henderson's selfie with a waitress at the Bar Code bar (file photo)  on the island of Zakynthos

Serbian media reported that the two who were released on bail had returned to their homes in southern Serbia.

Jovanovic told B92 he was not involved in the fight that ended Henderson's life, and said he was 'at the wrong place at the wrong time'. 

He said: '"I saw big chaos, pushing around, nothing else.'

Jovanovic said he expected to move on with his life, adding: 'I feel bad that we were there in the first place...I am sorry about the young man. Nobody deserves that.'

CCTV from a nearby bar where Henderson had been partying shows the recent college graduate fleeing from a mob

Henderson is quickly grabbed and body-slammed to the ground by one of the angry men before the rest are seen joining in, kicking and punching him repeatedly for 20 seconds

According to the Greek Security Division the incident began at 3.15am on Friday at Bar Code.

Henderson was at the bar on a night devoted to Serbians when he reportedly asked to take a selfie with a waitress.

A 33-year-old Serbian took issue with this and got into an argument with the waitress before he hit Henderson, who smashed a beer bottle on another table, according to Chronopoulos.  

In the CCTV footage, obtained by Greek newspaper Protothema from a bar on the same street as Bar Code, Henderson can be seen running along the sidewalk trying to get away from a mob that was in pursuit.

A man can be seen bod y slamming Henderson into the front of a car from the right hand side and the 22-year-old begins to fall to the floor.

As he goes down, one attacker kicks him in the back, another punches him in the face and the first assailant kicks him again.

The mob then continues to kick him during the 20-second assault.

Henderson was at the bar on a night devoted to Serbians when he reportedly asked to take a selfie with a waitress. A fight soon broke out 

 'They kicked and punched him to his body and his head. His death came from hits in his head,' Chronopoulos said. Pictured above, Henderson, who was starting his own fashion line

'They kicked and punched him to his body and his head. His death came from hits in his head,' Chronopoulos told the Washington Post. 

Henderson did not get up and the attackers milled around over his body, leaving him bleeding on the street. 

After five minutes paramedics arrived and Henderson was taken away on a stretcher. 

Police are not seen in the footage; this is the first summer that Laganas does not have its own police station due to government cuts.  

Six suspects - a Greek bartender, a British citizen of Serbian origin, and four other Serbs - are jailed pending trial. Pictured, two suspects being brought into court

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