Man guilty of Ilford double murder during Russian New Year party

Georgian national Vepkhvia Laliashvili, 51, fatally stabbed Lithuanians Dainius Kulboka, 44, and Jonas Semenas, 44, in Ilford in January last year.

Beforehand, Laliashvili, who worked in the motor trade, had shared five bottles of brandy with the victims.

READ MORE:

• Man charged with murder of missing Ilford woman
• Labour MP Wes Streeting visits Chigwell care home

The reason for the violence is not known, but it was claimed that the defendant owed the victims some £30,000, the Old Bailey heard.

Dainius Kulboka (Metropolitan Police/PA)

The Metropolitan Police said the alarm was raised at 4.20am on January 10 when Mr Kulboka’s girlfriend found him and Mr Semena covered in blood.

Emergency services attended but both men were confirmed dead at the scene.

Prosecutor James Dawes QC had told jurors the evidence indicated that Laliashvili killed or incapacitated one man and then killed the other.

The defendant used knives he found at the house to inflict eight deep stab wounds to Mr Kulboka, and 52 stab injuries to Mr Semenas, some very deep, the court heard.

The prosecution asserted that sounds of the attack could be heard on a doorbell camera opposite the house.

One of the victims could be heard pleading with the defendant to stop after he had apparently already stabbed the other.

In distressing audio played in court, a voice could be heard begging: “Please don’t kill, please don’t stab him.

“What are you doing? … Don’t stab him. What has he done to you?”

As the attack continued, the defendant phoned his partner to pick him up, jurors were told.

Jonas Semenas (Metropolitan Police/PA)

When police officers entered the house, they found Mr Kulboka in the hallway and the second victim lying near the patio doors.

There was blood on the walls, floors and curtains on the ground floor.

A small amount of cocaine was found in the flat and both victims had the drug in their systems.

Laliashvili was arrested in the early hours of January 13 in Islington. The 53-year-old, from Paistow, who was formerly known as Vytautas Garmus, denied two counts of murder.

Giving evidence, he claimed he had no memory of events but said he would not have attacked the two men, who worked in construction.

A jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for less than a day on July 18 to find him guilty.

Mr Justice Wall adjourned sentencing until Thursday (July 21).

Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen, of Scotland Yard, said: “Dainius and Jonas were subjected to a frenzied attack by a man who they thought was their friend.

“My thoughts are with their families as they continue to deal with the pain of losing a loved one in such awful circumstances.

“My team of detectives carried out a complex and detailed investigation, which involved speaking to several witnesses and reviewing a large amount of CCTV footage and phone data.

“I am pleased that our work has resulted in a dangerous man being convicted and it is right that he will now spend a considerable time in prison.”