Chilling moment ‘killer' brands samurai sword ‘freaking sexy' before he ‘murdered boy, 14, in rampage'

The Irish Sun

10-06-2025

THIS is the moment an alleged killer branded a samurai sword "freaking sexy" before he murdered a 14-year-old boy in a rampage, a court heard.
Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, ambushed Daniel Anjorin, 14, as he made his way to school in Hainault, East London.
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Marcus Arduini Monzo filmed himself unboxing a samurai sword, jurors heard
Credit: Central News
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He then allegedly went on to kill Daniel Anjorin
Credit: Central News
Jurors heard Monzo also tried to kill female cop Yasim Mechem-Whitfield, Henry De Los Rios Polina, Sindy Arias and Donato Iwule in the
horror
.
Police today released footage shown to the court of the so-called "mystic" unboxing a Katana sword he had bought online.
The Spanish-Brazilian national can be heard saying "wow" as he explains the weapon was "handmade in
Japan
".
Monzo can be seen standing on a black mat with a ginger cat he calls the "Wizard" by his side.
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He tells the camera: "This just came through… Ninja stuff. So I'm sort of obliged to do some ninja stuff with the Wizard."
Monzo then brands the sword "freaking sexy" and exclaims "ooh" as he lunges around holding the weapon.
The court heard the martial artist spent nearly £1,000 on swords in December 2023 before cancelling the order.
He then bought two handmade Katana swords for £427.80 on February 21, 2024, with delivery coming through to his home in early April.
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Jurors heard Monzo killed and skinned his own cat at home before setting off on the rampage after believing he was in the "Hunger Games".
He carried out the attack with "murderous intent" over a 20-minute period on April 30, it was said.
The Old Bailey heard Donato was the first to be attacked when Monzo "deliberately" drove into him in his van.
As he was knocked into a garden, Monzo allegedly got out the van and slashed his neck with the Samurai sword.
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Monzo filmed the unboxing video on his iPhone
Credit: PA
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He called the sword 'freaking sexy'
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Monzo could be seen practising his martial arts in the video
Donato managed to escape as emergency crews were scrambled to the residential street.
Meanwhile, Daniel was walking to school "minding his own
business
" when his life was "snuffed out in an instant".
The court heard PC Mechem-Whitfield arrived at the scene of the
horror
and "bravely pursued" Monzo through alleyways after he tried to flee.
The officer was "struck three times" and suffered significant injuries in the horror.
Monzo then burst into a house to attack a couple in their bedroom as their child slept
next
to them, it was said.
He shouted out 'do you believe in God?' about four times then began to attack Henry De Los Rios Polania with the sword before attempting to stab his wife.
Jurors were told their lives were only spared because the youngster woke up and started to cry.
Monzo was taken to hospital by police before going to Romford police station.
NHS
systems were checked and showed there were no documented mental
health
concerns or access to
mental health
services by Monzo.
The court heard Monzo does not dispute he carried out the attacks.
But the jury will have decide "why he did so and what his state of mind was" at the time.
Prosecutor Tom Little KC said: "The prosecution case is that this is a clear case of murder and that it is also a clear case of four attempted murders.
"We say that the defendant's conduct was brought about by self-induced intoxication in the form of drugs.
"This, we say, led to a psychotic disorder but not one meeting the requirements to make out the partial defence to murder of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility."
Monzo, of West Beckton, Newham, denies murder, four counts of attempted murder and one of wounding with intent.
The trial continues.
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Monzo is accused of injuring four others in the horror
Credit: Central News
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Four other people were injured in the rampage
Credit: PA