Overview
- The court, which heard on Thursday that police found Roman Lavrynovych’s DNA on a petrol can, a bottle of white spirit and trainers, was also told he said he felt threatened by the contact known as “El Money”.
- Prosecutors allege three linked fires in Kentish Town between May 8 and May 12, 2025 targeted a Toyota RAV4 once owned by Keir Starmer and two nearby homes tied to him, including one occupied by his sister-in-law.
- Jurors were shown digital and video evidence, including more than 320 Telegram messages with “El Money”, CCTV of Lavrynovych buying white spirit, and phone data that placed the men near the scenes.
- The prosecution argues the motive was financial rather than political and told jurors they do not need to determine who “El Money” is or whether the defendants knew the properties were linked to the prime minister.
- Lavrynovych, Petro Pochynok and Stanislav Carpiuc plead not guilty, and the trial before Mr Justice Garnham is due to run to the end of May after arrests last May that included Carpiuc being stopped at Luton Airport.