Hainault Samurai sword killer guilty of murdering schoolboy in street rampage

A drug-crazed samurai sword killer has been found guilty of murdering 14-year-old schoolboy Daniel Anjorin during a 20-minute rampage.

Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, killed, skinned and deboned his pet cat Wizard before he launched the spree of violence in Hainault , north-east London, on April 30 last year, the court has heard. During the rampage, he virtually decapitated Daniel and attacked a pedestrian, two police officers and a couple in their own home, jurors heard.

Afterwards, he likened events to Hollywood movie The Hunger Games and claimed to have an alternative personality of a "professional assassin".

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Today an Old Bailey jury found Monzo guilty of Daniel’s murder, three charges of attempted murder, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article relating to a kitchen knife.

He was cleared of one count of attempted murder but found guilty of the lesser offence of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Monzo, who showed no emotion as the verdicts were read out, previously admitted having the samurai sword used to kill Daniel and a katana sword found in his van.

Monzo had denied Daniel's murder, and the attempted murders of Donato Iwule, Sindy Arias, Henry De Los Rios Polania and Pc Yasmin Margaret Mechem-Whitfield, as well as wounding Inspector Moloy Campbell with intent.

He also denied aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article relating to a kitchen knife. Monzo previously admitted two counts of having an offensive weapon, namely two swords.

Monzo will be sentenced on Friday 27 June, the court heard.

Kirsty O’Connor, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The CPS maintained throughout that Arduini Monzo’s mental state was driven by his own cannabis misuse which meant that he was fully responsible for the devastation he caused last year. The jury, by their unequivocal verdicts, have accepted the prosecution case.

“Our hearts go out to Daniel Anjorin’s family and friends who have suffered his unimaginable loss in horrific circumstances, and our thoughts remain with all of the victims who continue to recover from their injuries and trauma.

“I would also like to pay tribute to the brave police officers and emergency workers who faced Marcos Arduini Monzo on that terrifying day in April 2024, putting their own personal safety at risk in the line of duty.

“The courage shown by PC Mechem-Whitfield, PC King, Inspector Campbell and others who selflessly sought to apprehend Arduini-Monzo whilst facing extreme personal danger was exceptional and undoubtedly prevented further loss of life.

“We all owe them a debt of gratitude.”

And Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: “There was no doubt Arduini Monzo was in the grips of a psychotic episode, but the challenge for our specialist homicide prosecutors in this case was proving that his mental state was the result of his cannabis misuse – not an underlying mental health condition such as schizophrenia.

“This matters, because by proving Arduini Monzo’s psychosis was the result of his own actions, our prosecutors could bring charges of murder, as opposed to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.”

Opening the case, prosecutor Tom Little, KC, told the jury: "Daniel Anjorin is the boy that was murdered. He was just 14. He had left home and was simply walking to school, minding his own business, looking forward to the day ahead when he was killed.

"His life was snuffed out in an instant. In fact most accurately he was slain by the defendant with the use of a sword."

Mr Little told the jury that the first victim, Donato Iwule, was walking along a pavement at 6.51am when Monzo rammed him, "catapulting" him into a garden. CCTV from a Ring doorbell captured Mr Iwule shouting: "I don't know you", to which Monzo chillingly replied: "I don't care, I will kill you."

Mr Iwule managed to scramble to his feet and run away despite having also been stabbed in the neck with the 23-inch blade.

Daniel was the next victim, slashed in the neck just as police arrived at the scene, the court heard.

PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield chased Monzo but was slashed three times.

He then burst into a house and attacked a couple sleeping upstairs next to their four-year-old daughter. He only stopped when the girl awoke crying. Officers tasered Monzo, of Newham, East London, to arrest him.

He did not deny carrying out the attacks but claimed he was suffering from a mental disorder and "psychotic episodes".