Romanians face trial for camp fire murder
Two Romanians accused of murdering a countryman by setting a hut alight at a makeshift homeless camp will face trial later this year.
Ionut Manea, 38, died in hospital on June 19 after suffering 100 per cent burns in the blaze next to the A406 in Ilford, Essex.
Ionel-Octavian Stancia, 37, and Petra Deliu, 52, are accused of murdering Manea and attempting to murder Petrisor Manea, who is not related.
Neither were presented for a brief hearing at the Old Bailey today (TUES) but Tracey Ayling, QC, representing, Stancia, said: ‘I can indicate there will be not guilty pleas to all counts on the indictment.’
Flavia Kenyon, defending Deliu, mirrored this and said her client will deny all charges.
Both men are also charged with arson with intent to endanger life.
The arson allegation reads: ‘On 18 June 2019 without lawful excuse damaged by fire a hut located in a makeshift camp near the A406 Ilford belonging to another to destroy property and intending thereby to endanger life.’
Stancia, of Westminster Gardens, Barking, and Deliu, of Carson Road, Canning Town, are also charged with an alternative lesser charge of arson namely being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Their trial was provisionally set for 19 December this year.
ENDS
