A sword attacker has been jailed for at least 40 years for the “wicked” murder of schoolboy Daniel Anjorin during a 20-minute rampage.
Marcus Monzo, 37, fatally slashed Daniel with a samurai sword minutes after the 14-year-old left his home in Hainault, east London, on April 30 last year.
In a televised sentencing, Mr Justice Bennathan jailed Monzo for life with a minimum term of 40 years for murder and attacking three more members of the public and two police officers.
He said: “In Hainault, east London, just before 7am on 30 April 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, a couple were terrified in their own home, 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.”
Speaking outside the Old Bailey, Daniel’s parents Grace and Dr Ebenezer Anjorin said: “This has been a painful and traumatic chapter in our lives.
“No verdict or sentence will bring back our son Daniel, who we loved so dearly.
“But we are grateful that justice has been served.”
Earlier, Dr Anjorin condemned Monzo’s “wicked” actions as he described losing his son as his “worst nightmare” in a statement read in court.
Speaking publicly about it for the first time, Dr Anjorin: “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 sport 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.”
In his sentencing, Mr Justice Bennathan paid tribute to Dr Anjorin’s “calm dignified” manner throughout the trial and said no sentence would “begin to temper” the grief of Daniel’s family.
He added: “All the police officers behaved with exemplary courage and put their lives on the line to protect the public they served.”
Previously, the court heard how Monzo 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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