27 May 2026

Tom Bealand

Daniel De Simone,Investigations correspondent

A Ukrainian man accused of conspiring to set fire to a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer has told a court that he refused to film the attack despite an alleged accomplice "begging" him to.

Ukrainian-born Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc , 27, is on trial alongside Ukrainian nationals Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Petro Pochynok, 35.

They deny targeting two properties and a car linked to the prime minister in May 2025.

All three, who live in London, are charged with conspiring together - and "with others" - to damage property by fire between 1 April and 13 May 2025. They deny the charges.

Giving evidence, Carpiuc told the Old Bailey that his friend Lavrynovych carried out the first alleged arson attack for "money' - and that he had tried to persuade him not to do it.

A Toyota previously owned by Sir Keir was set alight on 8 May 2025 in a street where he once lived. Lavrynonych admits starting the fire.

In his evidence Carpiuc said that Lavrynovych "wanted to set fire to the car and he also wanted me to make a video". Carpiuc said that when Lavrynovych told him of this plan he replied that it was "pure stupidity".

Carpiuc said he "explained to him that walking around in the streets of the city setting fire to cars is not a good idea - it's a very serious crime".

He said Lavrynovych then told him that he wouldn't set fire to the car but would break one of its windows. Carpiuc told the court he also rejected any involvement in this plan, but passed on contact details for Pochynok.

Addressing the court through a Russian translator, Carpiuc said he knew Lavrynovych was to be paid by "El Money" but he did not know who he was.

Lavrynovych had wanted money by 10 May to pay for his father's medical treatment, Carpiuc told the jury.

Answering questions from his barrister Shahid Rashid, Carpiuc said he was working at a west London hotel between 2100 BST on 8 May and 0900 on the 9 May, which is when the car was set on fire.

He said he received a phone call from Pochynok, whom he described as "scared" because "Lavrynovych had set fire to a car". Carpiuc said he then spoke on the phone to Lavrynovych and "told him he's gone mad".

He said Lavrynovych "was trying to calm me down. He told me 'yes', he had set fire to car, but the fire burnt out".

Lavrynovych had previously told the court that he set fire to the Toyota because he had been recruited by a Russian-speaking online account he called "El Money", that had offered him money in exchange for setting light to the car and properties.

Carpiuc told jurors that he knew Lavrynovych was to be paid by "El Money" but he did not know who he was.

Lavrynovych is also charged with damaging property by fire with intent to endanger life on 11 and 12 May 2025 at two properties in north London connected to Sir Keir. He denies the charge.

Three days after the car fire, a fire was discovered at flats in nearby Islington where Sir Keir previously lived.

On 12 May, another fire was discovered at the front entrance to Sir Keir's Kentish Town home - in the same street where the car was set on fire - which was being rented to his sister-in-law.

Lavrynovych is accused of starting all three fires.

Carpiuc said he had taken no part in the 11 and 12 May fires and was out drinking with friends on both nights.