A man has been found guilty of murdering a 14-year-old schoolboy with a samurai sword last year.
Marcus Arduini-Monzo, 37, carried out a marauding attack while in a state of cannabis-induced psychosis in Hainault, north-east London, on 30 April 2024, the Old Bailey heard.
Arduini-Monzo was found guilty of the murder of Daniel Anjorin, who was just 14 metres from his home, as well as three counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.
Witnesses described the former Amazon delivery driver screaming “in delight” and smiling after killing Daniel.
Arduini-Monzo attacked four people with a 60cm sword during the rampage, including a pedestrian and a man at home with his partner and young child.
Daniel’s parents sat in court throughout the trial, where CCTV and police body-worn video was played. In a previous statement, they said they were “devastated by the loss of our beloved son Daniel” and were struggling to accept the reality that he would never come home.
They described the Arsenal fan and hard-working pupil at Bancroft’s independent school as a “loving and precious brother” and “the most loved and amazing son”.
Tom Little KC, for the prosecution, told jurors it was “miraculous” that more people were not killed as Arduini-Monzo slashed and chopped at whoever he came across in the 20-minute rampage.
Afterwards, Arduini-Monzo likened events to the Hollywood film The Hunger Games and claimed to have an alternative persona of a “professional assassin”. He had killed and skinned his pet cat, Wizard, shortly before the rampage.
Giving evidence at his trial, he said he had no memory of what happened and claimed his mental state had diminished his responsibility for the crimes. After his arrest, Arduini-Monzo claimed his personality had switched and that “something happened, like a game happening”.
He also said he had drunk ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic tea. However no trace of DMT – the class A drug in the brew – was detected in his system.
His defence said he was vulnerable to “psychotic episodes with schizophrenia-like symptoms, prompted by his use of cannabis”. The prosecution argued that psychosis brought on by self-induced intoxication was no defence for murder.
The court heard how Arduini-Monzo had made “stabbing motions” re-enacting the violence when he chatted about “killing films” with a member of staff at Broadmoor secure psychiatric hospital.
Arduini-Monzo was cleared of one count of attempted murder in relation to one person, Henry De Los Rios Polania, but found guilty of the lesser offence of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
It can now be reported that Arduini-Monzo, a dual Spanish-Brazilian national who was living in Newham, east London, had an online profile revealing interests in violence, conspiracy theories and “incel” and far-right extremism, as well as figures such as Andrew Tate, Elon Musk and Adolf Hitler.
At his trial at the Old Bailey, Arduini-Monzo told jurors he believed the world was flat and that the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York was “probably” a conspiracy. On social media, he had expressed interest in flat earth, chemtrail and anti-vax conspiracy theories.
Arduini-Monzo’s social media accounts also underlined his fascination with traditional Japanese samurai and katana swords.
In his defence, Arduini-Monzo described being bullied growing up in Brazil before his family moved to Britain in 2013. He practised mixed martial arts until an injury in 2016 led him to explore yoga and the “magical, miraculous and supernatural” aspects of spirituality, he said, leading him to follow a guru on YouTube and spend a year at a retreat in India.
Arduini-Monzo said he was interested in martial arts, including Brazilian jiujitsu. His boxing coach, who asked not to be named, told the PA news agency that he was a recluse who struggled to fit in. Describing the former delivery driver, he said: “He was a bit different, but he was a nice guy. As far as I know, he did not have any friends.”
Kirsty O’Connor, of 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.
“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.”
Arduini-Monzo will be sentenced on 27 June.
