Monster who knifed tragic Daniel, 14, to death and slashed at cops in terrifying sword rampage is jailed for life

Scottish Sun

2 days ago

A MONSTER who knifed a tragic 14-year-old boy to death and slashed at cops in a horrifying sword rampage has been jailed for life.
Marcus Arduini Monzo ambushed Daniel Anjorin on April 30 last year as he made his way to school in Hainault, East London.
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Daniel Anjorin was stabbed to death as he walked to school
Credit: Central News
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Monzo has been jailed for life
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The monster carried out a gruesome rampage
Credit: PA
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He slashed at officers as they desperately tried to stop him
Credit: PA
The youngster suffered a "devastating and unsurvivable chopping injury" to his neck and face during the horror.
Monzo also tried to kill Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield, Henry De Los Rios Polina, Sindy Arias and Donato Iwule in the 20-minute attack.
The Brazilian "mystic" has now been jailed for life with a minimum of 40 years after he was found guilty of murder and three counts of attempted murder.
In a victim impact statement, Daniel's family said nobody should have to lose their child to such "savagery".
His dad Dr Ebenezer Anjorin also revealed the moment he discovered his son's body after he was attacked near their home.
He added: "I ran outside of the house, crossed the road and saw a hunched up body on the side of the road.
"I didn't know it was Daniel but as I got closer I recognised the school sports clothes.
"He was lying in a pool of blood and had a wound to his neck. He was motionless and I knew at once he was dead and lent down and held his head."
Dr Anjorin said Daniel's mum arrived soon after and began screaming when she saw the tragic youngster.
He also branded Monzo as "danger to society" and hit out at the killer for showing no remorse or apologising for the horror.
Moment 'killer' brands sword 'sexy' before he 'murdered, 14, boy in rampage'
The grieving sad said: "We cannot begin to describe the pain and anguish we as a family feel.
"Daniel was a much loved son and had two siblings with four years between all three.
"As a parent one of the most painful aspects is seeing the pain of Daniel's loss in our children's eyes- something we wouldn't wish on anyone.
"This was a completely random, unprovoked and savage attack on a schoolchild and people going about their business.
"The scale and savagery of this attack shocked the local community and the whole country."
Jurors heard Monzo killed, de-boned and skinned his own cat in a cannabis-induced psychosis before setting off on the rampage.
He believed he was in the "Hunger Games" and that he was being controlled by "evil lizard type aliens".
The killer had shown a warped interest in toxic influencer Andrew Tate and shared Incel posts online.
Monzo carried out the attack with "murderous intent" over a 20-minute period on April 30.
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His killer Marcus Monzo could be seen first ploughing his van into Donato Iwule
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The victim was flung into a garden
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He was then filmed screaming as he ran from the sword attacker
Footage released by police shows Monzo "deliberately" smashing into Donato in his van.
As he was knocked into a garden, Monzo got out the van and slashed his neck with the Samurai sword.
The victim could then be seen running away screaming as the killer calmly followed him clutching the sword.
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 harrowing footage shows the attempts by brave officers to stop Monzo as Daniel lay gravely injured on the ground.
One officer yelled "drop it" but the so-called "mystic" replied: "Do you believe in God?"
He then fled through nearby gardens before being chased down an alleyway by PC Mechem-Whitfield.
The footage shows the brave cop approach Monzo, who then slashes at her with a sword as an officer yells "police officer stabbed".
He also stabs another cop in the arm as they desperately tried to block the sword with a baton.
Monzo then burst into a house to attack a couple in their bedroom as their child slept next to them.
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 their child woke up and started to cry.
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Monzo attacked officers in an alleyway
Credit: PA
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He also slashed at an ambulance as paramedics arrived to treat Daniel
Credit: Central News
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Monzo was eventually Tasered and handcuffed
Credit: PA
The court heard the "talented" 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.
Footage showed Monzo branding a sword "freaking sexy" as he lunged around holding the weapon.
NHS systems were checked and revealed there were no documented mental health concerns or access to mental health services by Monzo.
But his brother Eduardo told the court Monzo had consumed ayahuasca – a hallucinogenic plant-based drink commonly used in South America – during a stay at a remote retreat in the Amazon.
Monzo's surviving victims speak of 'profound' effect horror had
Security guard Donato Iwule was run over by a van and then ran screaming for his life when Marcus Monzo came at him with a sword.
In a victim impact statement, he said: "The attack I endured has profoundly disrupted my life on every level, physically, mentally, emotionally and financially.
"I've had to manage physical pain, emotional trauma, anxiety - all from one violent and traumatic event.
"I am still in the process of healing - it has changed how I live, how I feel, and how I see the world around me."
Pc Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield was severely injured after being struck repeatedly with a sword by Monzo.
She said: "Since the 30th April 2024 the injuries I sustained during this incident have had a significant and permanent effect on my life which has taken away my independence."
She described facing "numerous challenges" in the wake of the attack, including struggling to dress one-handed, and preparing her hair.
She said: "I find this emotionally devastating every morning as I try to cover the scar and dent on the left side of my head.
"I no longer want to travel by myself or go out of the house without someone being with me. I have a fear of being attacked again and not being able to defend myself."
Sindy Arias was asleep with her then partner Henry De Los Rios Polania when Monzo burst into their room, with their young child nearby.
She said she suffered "deep, persistent fear" and although she was not physically hurt, the emotional consequences were profound.
"No other family or person should have to go through such a complex, painful and destabilising experience," she said.
Inspector Moloy Campbell sustained a serious hand injury when he ran in to confront Monzo with his baton raised after learning that one of his colleagues had been hurt.
Reading his statement at Monzo's sentencing on Friday, he said: "The community that my team and I are tasked to protect was under attack. My team, the line which stood between peace and chaos, safety and danger, was being breached.
"This is a scary and lonely place to be in. There was no help in that moment - we were the help.
"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 officers' lives at risk. This is a horrible decision which no-one should have to make.
"When I challenged Mr Monzo, I knew it may be the last decision I would ever make, but one that had to be made.
"It's a horrible feeling, being in a confrontation which feels like a 'him or me' situation. When I felt the slash to my hand I looked down and saw the inside of it. I had no choice but to withdrawn due to a catastrophic bleed but I felt I had failed."
Mr Campbell was treated in hospital and came round believing the team had achieved their goal to preserve life.
Describing his feelings on learning that was not the case and schoolboy Daniel Anjorin had died, he said: "I have never had the wind knocked out of me like that moment. I felt I was being sucked down into my hospital bed."
He said he was "concerned" as the drink has caused a "negative response" in some people.
Eduardo said his brother began to withdraw from his family when he returned from the retreat.
The court heard no trace of DMT – the hallucinogen found in ayahuasca – was detected in Monzo's system.
But prosecutors said his "conduct was brought about by self-induced intoxication in the form of drugs" that led to a "psychotic disorder".
Monzo, of West Beckton, Newham, denied murder, four counts of attempted murder and one of wounding with intent.
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The so-called 'mystic' had bought the Samurai sword online
Credit: PA