A martial arts enthusiast hooked on cannabis who murdered a 14-year-old schoolboy in a “wicked” sword rampage through London’s streets has been jailed for life.
Marcus Monzo, 37, used a samurai sword to kill Daniel Anjorin and attack police officers and members of the public in a shocking 20-minute burst of violence in Hainault, northeast London.
Daniel was walking to school on April 30 last year when he was slashed from behind by Monzo, who then cried out in celebration.
The killer, whose mind had been warped by a £100-a-day cannabis habit and the use of hallucinogenic drugs, had already attacked a Co-Op security guard, he went on to invade a couple’s home while armed with the sword, and he also attacked two police officers who tried to stop him.
At the Old Bailey on Friday, Mr Justice Bennathan jailed Monzo for life and ordered that he serve at least 40 years in prison before being considered for release.
“In Hainault, east London, just before 7am on April 30 last year, the weather was good, and the streets were starting to fill. People were on their way to work and even a few children were heading off early to school”, he said.
“Over the 20 minutes that followed, that peaceful scene was devastated because 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 with a savage blow with a sword.
“You, Marcus Monzo, did all that.”
The judge said Monzo was in a psychotic state, but he “must have known” Daniel was a child, thanks to his size and school clothing.
He hailed the bravery of members of the public who tried to help Daniel, as well as the heroic actions of police officers who put themselves in grave danger.
Wearing a bright green jumper in the dock, Monzo displayed little emotion as the life sentence was passed.
The judge said he had read an “eccentric” letter from Monzo which showed some signs of remorse.
At the sentencing hearing, Daniel’s father Dr Ebenezer Anjorin talked for the first time about the “worst nightmare” moment he held his dying son after Monzo’s attack.
He learned of the stabbing just minutes after Daniel had left home to get an early start at school.
“I ran outside of the house and just across the road I saw a hunched-up body by the side on 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 I phoned his mother, who had left for work earlier and teaches in a local school and I asked her to come back home.”
Mr Anjorin said his son had a bright future ahead of him, he had recently been picked for a visit to Cambridge University to learn about the application process, and he was talented at sports as well as playing the violin and piano.
“All out hopes and aspirations were cruelly snatched away from us by the wicked actions of Marcus Monzo”, he said.
“It is the worst nightmare experience of our lives, to go through the pain of losing a child in such a cruel and savage way.
“No family should have to go through this.”
Mr Anjorin set out the devastation of his family and Daniel’s friends, adding: “As parents, one of the most painful aspects of Daniel’s murder is sometimes seeing the pain of Daniel’s loss in our children’s eyes.”
Outside court after sentence was passed, Daniel’s parents said: “We are grateful that justice has been served.”
“Daniel was taken from us in a way that no family should ever have to endure. His life had so much potential ahead, he was gifted academically, was kind and had a generous spirit that touched everyone who knew him. We carry that light with us, even in this dark time.
“We want to express our deepest thanks to the police, prosecution team, and all those who worked tirelessly to seek the truth. Your dedication has meant more to us than words can convey.
“To everyone who supported us through this ordeal - friends, family, our church, our workplaces, our children’s schools, and even strangers - thank you. Your love and support has been a lifeline.
“We will honour Daniel’s memory not in the shadow on this tragedy, but through the love and happiness that he bought to us and all those who knew him.”
Monzo was found guilty by an Old Bailey jury on Wednesday of Daniel’s murder, as well as three charges of attempted murder, two counts of wounding with intent, aggravated burglary, and possession of a knife. He had also pleaded guilty to possessing two swords.
Chilling footage from a few weeks before the rampage showed Monzo excitedly unboxing a sword he had bought online, calling the weapon “sexy” and promising to do some “ninja stuff”.
Monzo had killed, skinned and deboned his pet cat Wizard before he launched the attacks, and he told the court he had been gripped by the belief that his pet was trying to control him.
Monzo said he tried to abandon the cat at a nearby park, but the animal returned to his home. He had made an aborted attempt to cook and eat Wizard when he set out on April 30 in his van.
First, Monzo rammed his grey Ford Transit van into Donato Iwule and then emerged from the vehicle while armed with a sword.
Mr Iwule told the court he “thought I was dying” after being struck by the van, and then saw a “smiling” Monzo come at him with the weapon.
He pleaded with the attacker, saying “I don’t know you”, but heard Monzo “I don’t care – I’m going to kill you” before slashing at his neck.
In his victim impact statement, Mr Iwule said the attack has “profoundly disrupted my life on every level.”
An eyewitness to the first attack saw Monzo on the rampage and tried to warn others nearby of the danger, including Daniel.
But the court heard the 14-year-old had headphones in, and likely knew nothing about Monzo approaching before he was brutally stabbed.
Maria Olmos told the trial she saw Daniel fall to his knees, as Monzo “raised both his arms to the sky”. “At the time of doing so he let out an extremely loud scream”, she said.
“It wasn’t a scream of pain, it was a scream of delight – my interpretation was he was celebrating.”
CCTV and police bodyworn footage captured Monzo’s subsequent movements, as he ran through the residential streets while armed with a Samurai sword.
PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield pursued him through a series of alleyways, but was then struck three times with “extreme force”.
Monzo then entered a family home and attacked a couple, Sindy Arias and Henry De Los Rios Polania, who were sleeping in an upstairs bedroom with their young daughter nearby.
“They were in bed with their young child asleep nearby. You erupted into their bedroom, shouting about God and jabbing the sword at Mr De Los Rios Polania, then aimed a sweeping blow at Ms Arias’s neck”, set out the judge.
“She was saved from very serious injury or worse by Mr De Los Rios Polania grabbing the blade, causing a deep slash wound across the fingers of his right hand.”
Inspector Moloy Campbell told the court he was attacked after hearing over the radio about the attack on MC Mechem-Whitfield.
He was slashed on the hand while trying to subdue Monzo with PAVA spray and the use of a baton.
Inspector Campbell told the Old Bailey that it was his duty as a police officer to try to save his colleague, but he knew when he confronted the sword-wielding killer “it might be the last decision I ever had to make”.
“I had a choice to make: to contain Mr Monzo and line my officers up for slaughter, or confront Mr Monzo, thereby putting mine and other officer’s lives at risk. This is a horrible decision which no one should have to make.”
He said he pictured his wife and step-daughter when going face-to-face with Monzo, and told the court: “Confronting him felt like it was either him or me.”
He said after being slashed on the hand he was forced to withdraw due to the bleeding, and told the court: “I felt I had failed.”
Monzo’s trial heard how he grew up in Brazil, and moved to the UK in 2013, getting a job in a pub before becoming a so-called ‘man with a van’.
One witness, who hired Monzo’s services, said she was alarmed when he started spouting conspiracy theories about Covid, the earth being flat, 9/11 and the sinking of the Titanic.
She said Monzo suggested the world is controlled by “evil lizards” led by the Pope.
On social media he supported figures like Elon Musk and Andrew Tate, and had also expressed support for Adolf Hitler.
Monzo was in a psychotic state when he launched the sword rampage, having spent years smoking cannabis and indulging in hallucinogenic drugs.
Prosecutor Tom Little KC told the court that Monzo himself admits stopping taking cannabis in the past when he was concerned about the effect on him.
Mr Little said: “Following the crimes, he indicated he had been increasing his use of cannabis while aware of the impact on his mental health.”
After arrest, Monzo claimed to have an alternative personality of a “professional assassin” and likened the stabbing spree to Hollywood film The Hunger Games.
Mr Justice Bennathan told the court hearing it is possible Monzo will never be set free again.
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