Sword attacker who murdered schoolboy in rampage jailed for at least 40 years

A martial arts enthusiast who ‘snuffed out’ the life of a 14-year-old schoolboy with a 60cm samurai sword has been jailed for at least 40 years.

Marcus Monzo, 37, nearly decapitated Daniel Anjorin with a ‘devastating and unsurvivable’ blow and attacked five other people during a 20-minute rampage in Hainault, east London, in April last year.

Witnesses described the Spanish-Brazilian national dropping to his knees with both arms raised while screaming ‘in delight’ at the senseless killing.

Monzo, of Newham, east London, was found guilty of murder, as well as three counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.

The judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, said: ‘In Hainault, east London, just before 7am on April 30 last year, the weather was good, and the streets were starting to fill, with people on their way to work and even a few children heading off early to school.

‘Over the 20 minutes that followed,  that peaceful, busy scene was devastated as members of the public were attacked, police officers were gravely injured and a clever, talented, much loved young boy was killed by a savage blow with a sword.

‘You, Marcos Arduini Monzo, did all of that.’

Daniel’s father, Dr Ebenezer Anjorin, was in court throughout the entire trial and watched Monzo being convicted and sentenced for murdering his son.

The judge paid tribute to his ‘calm and dignified manner’, saying he had showed ‘a composure most of us would find impossible’.

Earlier, Dr Anjorin condemned Monzo’s ‘wicked’ actions as he described losing his son as his ‘worst nightmare’.

Speaking publicly about it for the first time, he said: ‘On April 30, 2024, at approximately 7am, Daniel left for school. At approximately 7.15am I was informed by my eldest son that Daniel had been stabbed on the road near my house.

‘I ran outside the house and just across the road I saw a hunched-up body by the side of the road.

‘I did not realise that it was Daniel at first but, as I got closer, I recognised the school sports clothes and saw his face.

‘He was lying in a pool of blood and had a deep cut to his face running from the side of his mouth to the back of his neck. He was motionless. I knew at once that he was dead, but I reached down, called his name and held his head.’

After a few minutes, he called Daniel’s mother, who screamed and cried when she arrived home and saw paramedics trying to resuscitate her son, who died later in hospital.

Dr Anjorin said he could not begin to describe the ‘pain and anguish’ the family felt at losing Daniel, who was academically gifted and enjoyed sports and music.

He said: ‘We will not see him get married or have children. All the normal things parents hope for their children.

‘All these hopes and aspirations have been cruelly snatched away from us through the wicked actions of Marcus Monzo.

‘It has been the worst nightmare experience of our lives. To have to go through the pain of losing a child in such a cruel and savage way. No family should have to go through this.’

The trial of the former Amazon delivery driver – who had a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu – was told he had killed and skinned his pet cat Wizard before running amok in Hainault.

He drove his van into Donato Iwule, who ran away screaming as Monzo got out of the vehicle and came at him with a sword.

Monzo then attacked Daniel from behind, causing unsurvivable neck injuries.

When Pc Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield tried to detain Monzo, he repeatedly struck her with ‘savage’ blows, causing severe injuries.

He erupted into the home of Henry De Los Rios Polania and Sindy Arias who had been asleep with their young child nearby.

Inspector Moloy Campbell cornered Monzo in a car park and ran in with his baton raised only to be slashed on the hand.

Officers eventually detained the delivery driver, who had become psychotic from taking cannabis.

Afterwards, Monzo, who had viewed far-right and misogynistic content on social media, likened events to the Hollywood film The Hunger Games and claimed to have an alternative persona of a ‘professional assassin’.

Following an Old Bailey trial, he was found guilty of Daniel’s murder, the attempted murder of Mr Iwule, Ms Arias and Pc Mechem-Whitfield.

He was convicted of wounding Mr De Los Rios Polania and Insp Campbell with intent.

He was also convicted of aggravated burglary and having an article with a blade or point. He admitted possessing the samurai sword used to kill Daniel and a katana sword found in his van.

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