Two men who plotted to rob the runner of a rival drug gang before stabbing him have been found guilty of murder and manslaughter.
Peter Janoski, 44, and Dylan Myrie, 21, were found guilty Friday of their roles in the fatal stabbing of Dean Fountaine in June 2023.
Emergency services were called to reports of a stabbing in Ashton Road, Luton, on 19 June.
Fountaine, from Leighton Buzzard, was located in a critical condition, having been stabbed multiple times. The 37-year-old was transported to a hospital, where he died the following day.
During a nine-week trial at Luton Crown Court, the jury heard how Janoski and Myrie, who was 19 at the time and a senior figure of a drug line, had conspired to rob Fountaine, who had been running drugs for a rival gang.
Luring their victim to the area, Janoski instructed a friend to call Fountaine under the guise of wanting to purchase drugs.
At around 10:00 p.m., Fountaine arrived in Ashton Road, where Janoski met him.
Minutes later, Myrie appeared from behind parked cars wearing a balaclava, and an altercation ensued before Fountaine was stabbed twice.
The court heard how Myrie fled the scene while Janoski remained with Fountaine until police arrival, claiming to have witnessed “his best friend” being stabbed by an unknown man. He then left the area.
Returning to the location a short while later, Janoski was identified by a witness as being involved in the incident and was arrested.
Enquiries led detectives to declare Myrie a second suspect, and he was arrested on suspicion of murder five days later.
Appearing at Luton Crown Court, Janoski, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Janoski was also charged with intimidation. The jury found him not guilty.
Myrie, of Hallwicks Road, Luton, was found guilty of manslaughter and possession of an imitation firearm, which officers located in the vehicle he was travelling in when he was arrested. He was found not guilty of murder.
Myrie pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery at the start of the trial.
Both men will be sentenced at the same court on 20 June.
