Latest news with #PetroPochynok
The Independent
06-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Trial date set for three men charged over fires at Keir Starmer properties
A trial date has been set for three men charged in connection with arson attacks on two properties and a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer. Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych, 21, and Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, appeared together at the Old Bailey on Friday. Ukrainian national Petro Pochynok, 34, refused to attend the hearing. Two of the fires took place in Kentish Town, north London – one in the early hours of May 12 at the home where Sir Keir lived before he became Prime Minister and moved into Downing Street. A car was set alight in the same street four days earlier on May 8. The other fire was on May 11 at the front door of a house converted into flats in Islington. Lavrynovych, of Lewisham, south-east London, has been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life on May 8, May 11 and May 12. Carpiuc, from Romford, east London, and Pochynok, of Islington, north London, are each accused of one count of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life between April 17 and May 13. Lavrynovych and Carpiuc appeared at the hearing via videolink from HMP Belmarsh, and spoke only to confirm their identities and dates of birth via an interpreter. Ms Justice Cheema Grubb told the court that Pochynok had refused to leave his cell for the preliminary hearing. All three defendants were remanded in custody to next appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing at the same court on October 17. A provisional trial date was set for April 27 next year in front of a High Court judge. A fourth person, a 48-year-old man, was arrested by police at Stansted Airport on Monday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life in connection with the incidents. The Metropolitan Police said he had been released on bail until next month.
The Guardian
06-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Men appear in court over fires at properties linked to Keir Starmer
Two men charged with arson over fires at homes and a car linked to Keir Starmer made their first appearance at a crown court on Friday. The Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych, 21 and the Ukrainian-born Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, appeared at the Old Bailey in London via video link from Belmarsh prison. Petro Pochynok, 34, a Ukrainian national, refused to leave his cell and did not appear in court. Lavrynovych has been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life, while Pochynok and Carpiuc are accused of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. Last month, a spate of fires occurred across north London at properties and a car linked to the prime minister. One took place at the Starmer's family home in north-west London, which he lets to his sister-in-law. A car that Starmer sold to a neighbour last year was set alight four days earlier on the same street. On 11 May, firefighters dealt with a small fire at the front door of a house where the Labour leader is understood to have lived in the 1990s before it was converted into flats. Lavrynovych, speaking via a Ukrainian interpreter, confirmed his name and date of birth to the court. Carpiuc also confirmed his name and date of birth. Lavrynovych said the court was 'very, very hushed' after he was asked by his interpreter whether he could hear the room well. His barrister also mentioned concerns around his health: 'I've already spoken to his mother to see if we could get his health records as well. He has heart issues [that] need to be looked into immediately.' Pochynok's barrister said he last saw the defendant a week ago and had 'no explanation as to why he has refused to leave his cell'. Carpiuc was arrested last month at Luton airport. At a previous hearing, the court heard he had lived in the UK for nine years and had recently finished a two-year business studies degree at Canterbury Christ Church University. He was working in construction and living in east London at the time of his arrest. Lavrynovych was the first person to be arrested and charged. The BBC reported that he worked as a builder and roofer. All three defendants were remanded in custody to next appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing at the same court on 17 October. A fourth person, a 48-year-old man, was arrested by police at Stansted airport on Monday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life in connection with the incidents. The Metropolitan police said he had been released on bail until next month. A provisional trial date was set for 27 April next year.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Trial date set for men charged over fires at homes linked to Keir Starmer
Three men charged in connection with arson attacks on two properties and a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer will face trial in April of next year, a court has Lavrynovych, 21, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 26 appeared together via video link from the high security Belmarsh prison in south-east Pochynok, 34, however, refused to attend Friday's hearing and remained in his will next return to court on 17 October to enter pleas to the charges they face. The charges relate to three incidents. The first was on 8 May when a car previously owned by the prime minister was found on fire on a street he used to live on in Kentish Town, north days later, a fire was discovered at flats linked to the PM in nearby Islington. Firefighters had to rescue one person with the help of breathing May, a fire was discovered at the entrance to Sir Keir's Kentish Town home, which is currently rented Lavrynovych, a Ukrainian citizen, of Sydenham, south London, was the first to be charged and is accused of three counts of arson with intent to endanger Carpiuc, a Ukrainian-born Romanian national, of Romford, east London, was the second man charged and is accused alongside Ukrainian Mr Pochynok, of Holloway Road, north London, of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger the short hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday, Mr Lavrynovych and Mr Carpiuc spoke only to confirm their identities and dates of birth via an Justice Cheema Grubb told the court that Mr Pochynok had refused to leave his cell for the preliminary hearing, adding that the three men would next appear before the court in October to formally enter three have indicated that they deny the charges and a trial date has been fixed for 27 April 2026.
Malay Mail
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Arson attacks on UK PM Starmer's properties: Trial for three men with Ukraine links set for April 2026
Three men linked to Ukraine face arson charges Trial set for April 27 next year Counter-terrorism police lead investigation LONDON, June 6 — Three men all linked to Ukraine will go on trial next April accused of involvement in a series of arson attacks on houses and a vehicle in London connected to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a London court heard on Friday. Over five days last month, police were called to fires at a house in north London owned by Starmer, another at a property nearby where he used to live, and to a blaze involving a car that also used to belong to the British leader. Ukrainian Roman Lavrynovych, 21, is charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life. Fellow Ukrainian Petro Pochynok, 34, and Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, who was born in Ukraine, are accused of conspiracy to commit arson. Lavrynovych and Carpiuc appeared by video-link at London's Old Bailey court on Friday where Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb set the trial for April 27 next year. Pochynok was not present for the hearing. In earlier hearings, prosecutors said the motive for the arsons was unclear. The men will enter formal pleas at a hearing in October, but the lawyers for Carpiuc and Pochynok said their clients denied involvement. Counter-terrorism police have led the investigation but none of the men have been charged with offences under terrorism laws or the new National Security Act, which was brought in to target hostile state activity. Police said the first fire involved a Toyota RAV4 car that Starmer used to own and sold to a neighbour. Days later, there was a blaze at a property where Starmer previously resided and the following day there was an attack on a house in north London that he still owns. Starmer, who has lived at his official 10 Downing Street residence in central London since becoming prime minister last July, has called the incidents 'an attack on all of us, on our democracy and the values we stand for'. Earlier this week a fourth man, aged 48, who had been arrested at London Stansted Airport in connection with the arson, was released on police bail. — Reuters
The Independent
06-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Trial date set for men charged over fires at properties linked to Keir Starmer
A trial date has been set for a trio charged over arson attacks on two properties and a car linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych, 21, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday alongside Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 26. Ukrainian national Petro Pochynok, 34, refused to attend the court hearing. Two of the fires took place in Kentish Town, north London. One was in the early hours of 12 May, at the home where Sir Keir lived before he became prime minister and moved into Downing Street. A car was set on fire in the same street four days earlier on 8 May. The other fire was on 11 May at the front door of a home in Islington which had been converted into flats. Lavrynovych, of Lewisham, south-east London, has been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life on 8, 11, and 12 May. Carpiuc, from Romford, east London, and Pochynok, of Islington, north London, are each accused of one count of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life between 17 April and 13 May. Lavrynovych and Carpiuc appeared at the hearing via videolink from HMP Belmarsh. They spoke only to confirm their identities and dates of birth through an interpreter. Ms Justice Cheema Grubb told the court that Pochynok had refused to leave his cell for the preliminary hearing. All three defendants were remanded in custody to next appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing at the same court on 17 October. A provisional trial date was set for 27 April 2026 in front of a High Court judge. A fourth person, a 48-year-old man, was arrested by police at Stansted Airport on Monday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life in connection with the incidents. The Metropolitan Police said he had been released on bail until July.
