A Briton's Wish: My Simon's Home on Bjelave Meant So Much, I'm Coming to See Why

When Terry Jean from Portsmouth, Great Britain, lost his 25-year-old son Simon in 1996, he was left with a desire to visit Sarajevo and the Children's Home on Bjelave, for which his son had collected donations and to which he was deeply attached, writes the Bosnian news agency Patria.

Terry is now 72 years old, and his son was attacked in Split on September 8, 1996. He was hit in the head with a stone and sustained serious injuries. He died nine days later.

He had come to Split from Sarajevo, where he had taken money for the home.

Terry will soon come to Sarajevo, where he will meet the staff of the Home and the children, and try to understand why his son was so attached to this place.

-The last thing he did in his life was collecting money for that home. I am going there because I promised myself I would go and see what my son was doing.

Terry explains to local media that the home's staff will host him for a few days.

-They will introduce me to the work of the home and I will meet a family. They have helped me a lot and have been warm towards me.

His son spent time at the home, from where he traveled to Split, where the tragedy occurred.

Terry emphasized that it is very important for him to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina and see what his son wanted to achieve.

-Simon meant a lot to that home. I just want to see with my own eyes what he saw.

Terry waged a long battle until he brought those responsible for his son's death to justice. Dejan Škaro was convicted of causing serious bodily harm and initially received a suspended sentence, but after Terry's appeal in 2012, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.