Pair convicted after killing man in drunken arson attack on makeshift roadside camp in Ilford | UK News

Two men were sentenced after killing a man living by the roadside by spraying and setting his makeshift camp on fire.

Ionut Manea, 38, lived in a log cabin off the A406 in Ilford, east London when Ionel-Octavian Stanciu, 37, and Petra Deliu, 52, arson, the Old Bailey heard.

Mr Manea, who had been to the UK since Romania in search of a better life, was rushed to hospital with burns that covered almost 100% of his body, but died shortly thereafter.

A second man, also from Romania, suffered severe burns and spent six weeks in a specialized unit before being repatriated by plane to join his family.

Stanciu, who is homeless, was convicted of murder and grievous bodily harm with intent on Thursday after a trial.

Deliu, also homeless, was convicted of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm.

The trial heard that the two were drunk when they bought gasoline from a nearby garage on June 18, 2019 and went to the camp where they poured it over the hut and set it on fire.

The two victims were unable to escape until the flames set in shortly before midnight.

The defendants were arrested near the scene after police saw them waving motorists through.

It is still not clear why they carried out the attack.

Mr Manea’s next of kin has been found in Romania and has been officially identified by family DNA, police said.

Detective Sergeant Ian Valentine of the Met’s Crime Command said: “This is a tragic case in which one man lost his life and a second suffered horrific burns.

“Ionut Manea …