According to the Guardian, Roman Lavrynovych (22) from Ukraine and Stanislav Carpiuc (27) from Romania were found guilty of conspiracy to commit arson at London’s Old Bailey criminal court on Monday. Another Ukrainian man, Petro Pochynok (35), was acquitted of the same charge.
Lavrynovych was also convicted of reckless arson endangering life at two buildings on May 11 and 12 last year. He was acquitted of intentional arson endangering life. Judge Mr Justice Garnham ordered the convicted men to be remanded in custody; sentencing is set for Friday.
The jury deliberated for seven hours and 26 minutes before reaching unanimous verdicts. During the months-long trial, the court heard that the three men were allegedly paid by a mysterious Russian-speaking person named “El Money” or “Hroshi” (Ukrainian for money) to set fire to a car and two houses linked to Starmer.
Police recovered more than 320 messages between El Money and Lavrynovych on Telegram, dating back to September 2024. The anonymous contact, who communicated in Russian, offered Lavrynovych 3,000 pounds in cryptocurrency to set the fires, film them, and ensure they made the news.
Pochynok, whom Carpiuc had asked to help Lavrynovych with some suitcases, told the court he had been “deceived” by both men and had no knowledge of Lavrynovych’s plans to set a car on fire on May 8.
Source: www.theguardian.com
