Roman Pakholyuk was sentenced to death for the murder of two elderly people by Vinitsa Regional Court on 28 March 1994. His sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court of Ukraine on 3 June. A petition for clemency is still pending with the Presidential Clemency Commission. Roman Pakholyuk was 18 at the time he committed the murders. He had no previous convictions and is said to have acted under the influence of alcohol.
