A Romanian couple, Ioan Damian, 32, and Nicoleta Pinto, 37, have been sentenced to 17 years in prison each by Manchester Crown Court on May 24, 2024. The sentencing concludes a lengthy legal process following their conviction for manslaughter, robbery, and administering a noxious substance, which resulted in the death of 31-year-old Billy Livesley in December 2018 in Wigan, Greater Manchester.

The court heard that the pair orchestrated a "honeytrap" scheme, targeting Mr. Livesley for robbery. The incident unfolded on December 28, 2018, after Mr. Livesley was lured to Pinto's apartment in Platt Bridge, Wigan, through a dating application. Upon his arrival, Mr. Livesley was administered a powerful benzodiazepine drug, flubromazolam, a potent sedative. While incapacitated, Damian and Pinto proceeded to rob him of his belongings, including a Rolex watch valued at £10,000, his wallet, and car keys.

Shortly after the robbery, Mr. Livesley was discovered collapsed outside the apartment. He was subsequently taken to a hospital, where he tragically died the following day, December 29, 2018. Medical examinations determined that his death was a direct consequence of complications arising from the administered drug and the aspiration of vomit.

Following the fatal incident, Damian and Pinto fled the United Kingdom, traveling back to their native Romania in an attempt to evade justice. Greater Manchester Police initiated a comprehensive investigation, leading to international efforts for their apprehension and extradition. Ioan Damian was successfully extradited from Romania in 2021, with Nicoleta Pinto following in 2023, allowing the criminal proceedings to commence in the UK.

During the trial at Manchester Crown Court, both Damian and Pinto were found guilty of manslaughter, robbery, and administering a noxious substance. The presiding judge delivered the sentences on Friday, May 24, with each defendant receiving a substantial 17-year custodial term.

DCI Wes Morley of Greater Manchester Police commented on the verdict, highlighting the extensive police work involved in bringing the perpetrators to justice, particularly given their international flight. He acknowledged the devastating impact on Mr. Livesley's family. Sylvia Livesley, the victim's mother, released a statement expressing the enduring pain caused by her son's death and the long wait for justice, describing her son as a devoted father whose life was prematurely cut short.