Drug-crazed killer is found GUILTY of hacking schoolboy, 14, to death with a Samurai

A drug-crazed killer has been found guilty of decapitating a schoolboy in a 20-minute samurai sword rampage that left four others injured. 

Marcus Monzo, 37, believed he was an assassin from a Hollywood film when he killed Daniel Anjorin as the boy was walking to school, his trial heard. 

High on cannabis which ‘led to a psychotic disorder’, the Brazilian shouted ‘Does anyone believe in God’ as he attacked four strangers after ‘chopping’ Daniel to death in Hainault, East London. 

The Old Bailey heard the amateur musician believed he was a character from The Hunger Games, in which contestants fight to the death on a TV show. 

A jury has today found him guilty of murder, attempted murder, aggravated burglary by entering a property with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, wounding with intent and having an article with a blade. 

Monzo began his rampage around 6.45am on April 30 last year using a van to mow down his first victim, Donald Iwule, who was walking to work when he was hit and catapulted into a nearby garden. 

Jurors were shown CCTV of Mr Iwule screaming in agony shouting: ‘I don’t know you’ as Monzo approached on foot wielding the 60cm blade. 

The Brazilian replied: ‘I don’t care, I will kill you’ as he swung towards the victim’s neck and torso before Mr Iwule managed to escape. 

Daniel Anjorin, 14, was murdered by Monzo with a samurai sword

Marcus Monzo: The amateur musician believed he was a character from The Hunger Games

Monzo filmed himself unwrapping the sword he later used to kill Daniel Anjorin. Also in this image is his cat, Wizard, who he strangled, skinned and de-boned because he became convinced the pet would be the architect of Armageddon

Monzo attacked an ambulance that arrived at the scene, forcing its crew to retreat

Monzo then encountered schoolboy Daniel. Prosecutor Tom Little, KC, said: ‘He was simply walking to school, minding his own business, looking forward to the day ahead. His life was snuffed out in an instant. In fact, most accurately, he was slain by the defendant.’ 

Mr Little said Monzo ‘moved quickly like a predator behind Daniel. He lifted the sword above his head, swung it downwards towards Daniel’s head and neck area. Daniel instantly fell to the ground.’ 

Mr Little called the attack a ‘near decapitation’. 

In mobile phone footage a woman can be heard saying: ‘F***, he just killed that boy, he just killed him right outside my house.’ 

A female police officer, Yasim Mechem-Whitfield, pursued Monzo through a series of alleyways before he launched a ‘ferocious attack’, striking her three times. 

He then charged into a nearby house and attacked a couple in their bedroom, but their lives were spared when their four-year-old daughter woke up and started crying. 

Monzo’s rampage only ended when he was surrounded by officers in a garage area and tasered. Mr Little said it was a ‘miracle’ that more people were not killed that day. 

He said: ‘This case involved a brutal string of attacks with murderous intent primarily committed with the use of a large sword. The prosecution say there was a clear intention to kill a number of people that morning on the defendant’s part.’ 

How the carnage unfolded in Hainault last April

Social media photos show Monzo smiling and doing a thumbs-up with a collection of medals round his neck after winning a sports contest

Monzo was eventually cornered and subdued by police armed with Tasers

Daniel Anjorin was a student at Bancroft School, which was also attended by Nottingham stabbing victim Grace O’Malley-Kumar

Monzo was eventually cornered and subdued by police armed with Tasers

Henry De Los Rios Polania suffered deep injuries to his arm while protecting his family after Monzo burst into their home

The defence argued Monzo – seen here in a court sketch – had a pre-existing condition which made him vulnerable to psychotic episodes prompted by his use of cannabis

The defence argued Monzo had a pre-existing condition which made him vulnerable to psychotic episodes prompted by his use of cannabis. 

But forensic psychiatrist Nigel Blackwood said Monzo was capable of curtailing his cannabis use and aware of the risks.

‘The violence would not, in Professor Blackwood’s opinion, have happened in the absence of such voluntary substance misuse,’ Mr Little said.

When police searched Monzo’s van they found a second knife which he had used to skin his cat before the attack and another 22cm sword.

Monzo later told police that his personality had switched and ‘something happened, like a game happening’ claiming it was ‘like the movie Hunger Games’.

He told officers ‘one of his personalities is a professional assassin’.

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.’