Man indicted on murder charges in fire

A federal grand jury indicted a 40-year-old former truck driver Wednesday on first-degree murder charges after he set a fire in 2007 at a Northwest Washington strip club, leading to the club manager’s death, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

Federal prosecutors said that Vasile Graure, a Phoenix-based driver who is serving a lengthy jail sentence in connection with the case, started a fire at the Good Guys Club at 2311 Wisconsin Ave. in November 2007 after he was kicked out for taking photographs of the dancers. Authorities said he returned to the club with gasoline to set it ablaze, and the club’s manager, Vladimir Djordjevic, suffered burns over 80 percent of his body. He died May 17.

Graure had previously been convicted of assault with intent to kill and arson and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. With the new charges, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of release, prosecutors said.