A Latvian who in 2006 choked a countryman to death on a fishing trawler in Ireland and then threw his body overboard has been sentenced to time already served, a judge ruled Feb. 16 in Dublin, according to Irish media.

Sergejs Lavrinovics, 36, was sentenced in Central Criminal Court in the death of Igors Bondarenko, 35. Also sentenced were two accomplices, 32-year-old Andrijāns Ūbelis and 36-year-old Freddy Grenzman.

Lavrinovics pleaded guilty to manslaugter for killing Bondarenko sometime in late September or early October 2006 in what has been described as a “fight to the death.” Bondarenko, who had a criminal record in Latvia, had apparently threatened to kill Lavrinovics. He also was suspected in several extortion cases involving Eastern European immigrants.

Ūbelis and Grenzman were charged with aiding Lavrinovics in tossing Bondarenko’s body overboard. Grenzman also was sentenced to time already served, while Ūbelis was given a 12-month suspended sentence.

All three had cooperated with Irish police, according to media reports.

Latvia’s ice hockey team, which in the past few days won all three of its qualification round games in Rīga, will be one of 12 squads competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Latvia defeated Hungary, Ukraine and Italy to earn the coveted spot. The Olympics are scheduled to start Feb. 12, 2010. Latvia will face Russia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia in preliminary round games, according to the International Ice Hockey Federation.

The Latvians won 4-1 over Italy on Feb. 8 in a qualification game played in Arēna Rīga, according to a game summary reported by the IIHF.

The Latvians got on the scoreboard first. Ģirts Ankipāns, with an assist from Jānis Sprukts, scored at 8 minutes 48 seconds into the first period. At 10:01, Mārtiņš Cipulis scored on a power play, aided by Kristaps Sotnieks and Aigars Cipruss.

Mārtiņš Karsums made it 3-0 on a short-handed goal at 14:25 into the second period. He was assisted by Sprukts.

Fifteen seconds into the final period, Italy’s Giulio Scandella scored on a power play with help from Christian Borgatello. The Latvians answered the effort at 2:59 when Lauris Dārziņš, helped by Sprukts and Ankipāns, made the final score 4-1.

Latvia’s goalkeeper Sergejs Naumovs stopped 30 of Italy’s 31 shots on goal, while Italy’s Thomas Tragust was kept busy trying to stop 46 Latvian shots, 42 of them successfully.

In a Feb. 5 game in Rīga, Latvia beat Hungary 7-3 and, the following day, skated past Ukraine 4-2.

During the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Latvia’s best showing was a surprise 3-3 tie with the United States. However, the team lost all other games and ended up last in the field of 12. Sweden won the gold medal.

Funeral services are set Feb. 1 for a 96-year-old Latvian woman and her 64-year-old son, both of whom died Jan. 28 in a fire that destroyed their home near rural Oostburg in southeastern Wisconsin.

Austra Legzdiņš and her son, Pēteris Zirnis, were the only people in the house at the time of the fire, according to Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department. Zirnis would have turned 65 on Feb. 2.

A retired emergency medical technician reported the fire at about 9 a.m., telling an emergency dispatcher that the house was fully engulfed, according to local media reports. Firefighters from Oostburg and three other communities responded.

Although the cause of the fire is under investigation, authorities do not suspect foul play, according to media reports. The house was owned by Legzdiņš, Pēteris Zirnis and his brother, Juris Zirnis, according to Sheboygan County property records.

Zirnis’ wife was away babysitting grandchildren in Chicago, according to media reports.

Legzdiņš was born June 5, 1912, in Bulduri, Latvia. She attended high school and college in Latvia. Following the Second World War, she and her sons in 1950 immigrated to the United States. Legzdiņš worked for many years as a bookkeeper in the Chicago area.

Legzdiņš was a member of the St. Peter Latvian Lutheran Church (Latviešu evaņģēliski luteriskā Sv.Pētera draudze) in Wood Dale, Ill., and taught in the Latvian school. She is described as having been an avid art collector, enjoying reading, documenting family history and heritage, gardening, and home decorating.

She is survived by two sons, Andrejs (Rita) Jurevics of Latvia, and Juris (Ruta) Zirnis of Chicago; her daughter-in-law, Inta Zirnis of Oostburg; six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Legzdiņš was preceded in death by a grandson, three sisters and two brothers.

Pēteris Zirnis was born Feb. 2, 1944, in Strenči, Latvia, to the late Vilis and Austra Zirnis. He graduated in 1961 from Lane Technical High School in Chicago and attended several art schools. From 1963-1966, he served in the U.S. Army. Zirnis married Inta Baltmanis in 1966 in Chicago.

Zirnis worked as a commercial artist for the Sears Roebuck Co. for 22 years. For the past 10 years he worked at Ongna Wood Products in Oostburg. He is described as having enjoyed painting, sketching, wood carving, collecting old weapons, reading, history, basketball, cooking and gardening.

He is survived by his wife, Inta of Oostburg; one daughter, Solveiga (David) Brunovskis of St. Charles, Ill.; one son, Nikolas Zirnis of Oak Park, Ill.; three grandchildren, Krišs, Sabīne, and Miķelis Brunovskis; and his brothers, Andrejs and Juris.

Funeral services for Legzdiņš and Zirnis are scheduled at 3 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Wenig Funeral Home, 108 Center Ave., Oostburg. Friends may call at the funeral home from 1-3 p.m. Additional services are planned later in Chicago, according to the Wenig Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be sent to www.wenigfuneralhome.com

A memorial fund is being established in their names to further promote Latvian heritage and culture.