Courtesy Henderson Family.
Tuesday is at once solemn and hopeful, as the family ofBakari Hendersonand prosecutors representing Greece again seek justice in the 22-year-old Texas native’s mob killing.
Bakari, who had recently graduated with a business degree from the University of Arizona, was visiting the Greek island of Zakynthos in July of 2017 with college buddies when a beautiful day of cliff-diving and sightseeing took a horrific turn.
“He didn’t really have a mean bone in him. He never would get into altercations or fights unprovoked,” says Chris Vineyard, a friend of Bakari’s since sixth grade. “He had such a good temperament, so calm.”
Phil and Jill Henderson outside court in Greece during the initial trial.Giannis Androutsopoulos/AP/Shutterstock
The retrial was initially scheduled to begin in early 2020 before being pushed to February 2022. Already this year, the trial has been bumped multiple times due to witness scheduling conflicts and a juror’s illness, eventually finding its place on Tuesday’s court schedule.
On Friday evening, in preparation for the retrial, Greece residents rallied in support of Bakari at a town square in Athens.
The Hendersons tell PEOPLE they are “grateful” for their new friends in Greece who have worked hard to raise awareness of Bakari’s case when they are home in the States.
Mural of Bakari Henderson painted in purple, his favorite color.Courtesy Henderson Family
A Lasting Impression
In his short life, Bakari made a big impression among family and friends. “He’s always been very inquisitive, very personable, but also outgoing,” says his mother, Jill Henderson. “He would always have big dreams and big ideas.”
“He was just such a loyal, good friend. Had all the attributes you look for,” Vineyard says. “You’re ever in trouble, he would drop what he was doing to come help you. … No matter what it was, he just always had your back.”
Gayle King wearing a bracelet honoring Bakari Henderson on a red carpet in L.A.Chris Pizzello/AP Photo
“He’s the type of person that you would want to be your child,” King says. “Whether he’s Black or he’s white, you just like this kid.”
King has made it a personal mission to keep Bakari’s name in the national conversation so that the Hendersons aren’t left to fight for justice alone.
In February, Vice President Kamala Harris also used her platform to raise Bakari’s case in a meeting with Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, PEOPLE confirmed.
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The Hendersons at a Bakari Foundation event.The Henderson Family
A Young Man’s Legacy
While the Hendersons want to ensure Bakari’s death isn’t forgotten, they too are honoring his life. In 2018 they started an LLC for Bakari’s apparel line,Bakari Luxury Sportswear, which sells men’s and women’s clothing.
A portion of the proceeds from Bakari Luxury Sportswear goes to theBakari Foundation, a nonprofit the Hendersons established in his name that offers international retreats to grief-stricken families to help them heal. “We just wanted the platform to make sure that siblings are included,” Jill explains, “because a lot of times siblings are left out when you’re talking of the grieving process.”
The Bakari Foundation also partnered with a Texas high school last fall to teach youth finance and entrepreneurship skills.
As they await the results of the retrial, Phil and Jill hold dear their final conversation with their son. “Bakari FaceTimed us very early in the morning because he wanted to be the first one to wish his dad a happy birthday,” Jill says. He told them Greece had been amazing so far. “He was joyful, excited, his usual, upbeat self.”
source: people.com
