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Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Monster who knifed tragic Daniel, 14, to death and slashed at cops in terrifying sword rampage is jailed for life
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. 12 Daniel Anjorin was stabbed to death as he walked to school Credit: Central News 12 Monzo has been jailed for life 12 The monster carried out a gruesome rampage Credit: PA 12 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. 12 His killer Marcus Monzo could be seen first ploughing his van into Donato Iwule 12 The victim was flung into a garden 12 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. 12 Monzo attacked officers in an alleyway Credit: PA 12 He also slashed at an ambulance as paramedics arrived to treat Daniel Credit: Central News 12 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. 12 The so-called 'mystic' had bought the Samurai sword online Credit: PA
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Monster who knifed tragic Daniel, 14, to death and slashed at cops in terrifying sword rampage is jailed for life
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. Advertisement 12 Daniel Anjorin was stabbed to death as he walked to school Credit: Central News 12 Monzo has been jailed for life 12 The monster carried out a gruesome rampage Credit: PA 12 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 In a victim impact statement, Daniel's family said nobody should have to lose their child to such "savagery". Advertisement 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." Advertisement Most read in The Sun 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. Advertisement "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. Advertisement 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 Monzo carried out the attack with "murderous intent" over a 20-minute period on April 30. 12 His killer Marcus Monzo could be seen first ploughing his van into Donato Iwule Advertisement 12 The victim was flung into a garden 12 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. 12 Monzo attacked officers in an alleyway Credit: PA Advertisement 12 He also slashed at an ambulance as paramedics arrived to treat Daniel Credit: Central News 12 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Read more on the Irish Sun 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. Advertisement 12 The so-called 'mystic' had bought the Samurai sword online Credit: PA 12 Four people were injured in the horror attack Credit: PA
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Botched hitman plot, a ‘gay love triangle' & school bullies… how calamitous drug lords' £100m cocaine empire fell apart
AT the height of their success, drug baron James Harding and his 'loyal right-hand man' Jayes Kharouti ran a vast £100million criminal empire - raking in a staggering £70,000 a DAY. Now, Harding and his cohorts have been jailed for plotting the murder of a gangland rival from his luxury base in Dubai after cops blew open one of the biggest EncroChat investigations in history. 16 Cybercops tracked down drug lord James Harding via his vain selfies Credit: Central News 16 Harding's henchman Jayes Kharouti was jailed after plotting to murder a rival Credit: PA 16 The flashy pair ran their empire from The Nest apartment complex in Al Barari 16 Cops found Harding had hidden cocaine worth millions of pounds Credit: PA When cyber cops snared Harding, 34, who claimed to be a high-end watch sales executive, he was living in luxury at the The Nest apartment complex in Al Barari, Dubai, staying in five-star hotels and driving Bugatti and Lamborghini sports cars. The flashy narco's illicit business empire made a staggering £5million in just ten weeks, but it emerged he was prepared to do anything to keep his strangehold on the cocaine trade. Along with his henchman Kharouti, 39, he hatched an evil plot to murder a rival, going so far as to try to hire a hitman for £100,000. But the pair were scuppered by Scotland Yard detectives who cracked open the EncroChat messaging system - and tracked down the kingpin using vain shirtless selfies he had snapped on the same phone he used to arrange the hit. On the platform favoured by underworld criminals, Harding used the nickname 'thetopsking', while Kharouti went by the handle 'besttops' and 'topsybricks'. The pair, who were jailed at the Old Bailey this week, make an unlikely narco double act - with Harding insisting he was no murderer, but rather a suppressed homosexual involved in a bizarre love triangle, who had been bullied at school over his facial deformities. He denied using the handle 'thetopskiing', claiming instead it was actually used by his secret male lover. Meanwhile, The Sun can reveal Kharouti is an Afghan national who travelled to Britain as an asylum seeker in the Nineties with his mother - and has previously been busted over a nightclub drugs trafficking ring. In 2008 Kharouti, from Wallington in Surrey, was sentenced to four years in jail after pleading guilty to supplying more than half a kilo of cocaine to nightclubs across London. Using five different aliases, and five different dates of birth, he made £200,000 in just 18 months, with thousands of pounds found stashed inside a milkshake carton at his home. Moment drug-smuggling pals DIVE into water during boat chase as they attempt to flee Border Force with cocaine in hull Cops raided his home and unearthed more than £4,000 in cash – £1,000 stashed in his bedroom and £3,000 tucked a box in a kitchen cupboard. Officers also searched his car and found a staggering 620g of cocaine with a street value estimated at around £34,000. But after being released from jail he formed a murky friendship with Harding, who had been born with hemifacial microsomia, a condition causing the left side of his face to be under-developed. He endured multiple surgeries as a child and teenager to correct a deformed left ear, cheek and jaw. "I was alienated by everyone at school because of it," he confessed at his Old Bailey trial, which ended this week. Jurors heard Harding had feelings for "boys and girls" as a teenager, but "suppressed" his homosexual desires. 16 Harding said he was born with hemifacial microsomia, a condition causing the left side of his face to be under-developed Credit: PA 16 Harding revealed he was attracted to girls and boys and bullied at school Credit: Central News 16 Drug lord Harding raked in £5m in just ten weeks while enjoying a life of luxury in Dubai Credit: Central News 16 Harding sent snaps on EncroChat of himself at the Waldorf Hotel in Ras Al Khaimah Credit: PA As a teenager, Harding, who grew up in Hampshire, began to sell legal highs to make money. He advertised the drugs using online classified adverts. But the scam backfired and in August 2012 he was arrested and charged with drugs offences and possession of false ID documents. In his bombshell Old Bailey this month, Harding returned to his childhood struggles for an extraordinary and elaborate defence. 16 Cops found boastful selfies drugs baron Harding took in his Bugatti Chiron supercar Credit: PA 16 Kharouti could not resist sending selfies using EncroChat leading to his downfall Credit: PA 16 A distinctive tattoo on Kahrouti's right hand confirmed his true identity Credit: PA 16 Harding was arrested at Geneva airport and extradited to the UK for a trial Credit: PA The court had previously heard from cops that Harding used the handle 'thetopskiing' while hatching plans on EncroChat. In a remarkable twist, Harding insisted he did not use the handle - but was sleeping with the man who did. Harding's lawyer Clare Montgomery KC explained: "He (Harding) has for a long time been too ashamed to admit, and has always wanted to keep private, until this case has forced him to reveal his secret life. "That secret is that he had an intense and sexual relationship with 'thetopsking'." Before he was sent to prison the first time, Harding had fathered a child in 2010. His relationship with the little girl's mother broke down while he was in jail - when she apparently told Harding that he was not the child's biological father. But when Harding was released from prison in 2016 his ex-girlfriend contacted him to apologise for the way she had treated him. That secret is that he had an intense and sexual relationship with 'thetopsking' "I'd always felt rejected," he moaned. "And I wanted to know why she would leave me like that. "She explained to me she wouldn't have just left me for anyone. Her daughter's dad had got back into contact with her and wanted to rebuild a relationship with his daughter." Despite this, Harding said he went on to rekindle his relationship with the mother and she and her daughter moved into his home in Alton, Hampshire. But three years later, he claimed his girlfriend and her daughter left the UK and moved to Dubai where the real father, 'thetopskiing' , was living. 16 The pair were smuggling millions of pounds worth of cocaine into the UK Credit: PA 16 Cops confiscated packages of drugs following the investigation Credit: PA Harding later joined them - and recalled how HE fell for the mystery man too. He said he always found 'thetopskiing' or TK, good-looking and charming, but things changed after a boozy night out at the end of 2019. "We went to brunch at a place called Mama Zonia in Dubai, and after that a group of us went back to TK's villa, and after some time people were leaving," he said. "TK and I were drinking, and drinking quite a lot, and we ended up becoming intimate. "I wasn't proud of myself at all. I felt disgusted with myself." Harding claimed he was taken advantage of and used by 'thetopskiing' to book flights and restaurants. 16 Cops found bundles of cash found in the boot of one of their cars Credit: PA 16 Police also seized piles of cash and a counting machine Credit: PA Despite his denials, cops since proved that in fact Harding was 'thetopskiing' following a major cyber investigation. Harding gave away his true identity through a series of boastful selfies which showed his face, distinctive clothing and tattoos. They were able to prove that he and Kharouti had teamed up to import vast quantities of drugs. Their messages from 2020 revealed that "thetopsking" told other users when "lands" of cocaine were going to happen, and provided them with co-ordinates to collect the drugs close to Dover, where they had entered the UK by lorry. As a result Harding was arrested at Geneva Airport in Switzerland in December 2021, and extradited back to the UK. His United Arab Emirates residence permit gave his profession as a sales executive of luxury watches. His second in command Kharouti was extradited from Turkey to the UK last June.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Botched hitman plot, a ‘gay love triangle' & school bullies… how calamitous drug lords' £100m cocaine empire fell apart
AT the height of their success, drug baron James Harding and his 'loyal right-hand man' Jayes Kharouti ran a vast £100million criminal empire - raking in a staggering £70,000 a DAY. Now, 16 Cybercops tracked down drug lord James Harding via his vain selfies Credit: Central News 16 Harding's henchman Jayes Kharouti was jailed after plotting to murder a rival Credit: PA 16 The flashy pair ran their empire from The Nest apartment complex in Al Barari 16 Cops found Harding had hidden cocaine worth millions of pounds Credit: PA When cyber cops snared Harding, 34, who claimed to be a high-end watch sales executive, he was living in luxury at the The Nest apartment complex in Al Barari, Dubai, staying in five-star hotels and driving Bugatti and Lamborghini sports cars. The flashy narco's illicit business empire made a staggering £5million in just ten weeks, but it emerged he was prepared to do anything to keep his strangehold on the cocaine trade. Along with his henchman Kharouti, 39, he hatched an evil plot to murder a rival, going so far as to try to hire a hitman for £100,000. But the pair were scuppered by Scotland Yard detectives who cracked open the EncroChat messaging system - and tracked down the kingpin using vain shirtless selfies he had snapped on the same phone he used to arrange the hit. Read More Features On the platform favoured by underworld criminals, Harding used the nickname 'thetopsking', while Kharouti went by the handle 'besttops' and 'topsybricks'. The pair, who were jailed at the Old Bailey this week, make an unlikely narco double act - with Harding insisting he was no murderer, but rather a suppressed homosexual involved in a bizarre love triangle, who had been bullied at school over his facial deformities. He denied using the handle 'thetopskiing', claiming instead it was actually used by his secret male lover. Meanwhile, The Sun can reveal Kharouti is an Afghan national who travelled to Britain as an asylum seeker in the Nineties with his mother - and has previously been busted over a nightclub drugs trafficking ring. Most read in The Sun In 2008 Kharouti, from Wallington in Surrey, was sentenced to four years in jail after pleading guilty to supplying more than half a kilo of cocaine to nightclubs across London. Using five different aliases, and five different dates of birth, he made £200,000 in just 18 months, with thousands of pounds found stashed inside a milkshake carton at his home. Moment drug-smuggling pals DIVE into water during boat chase as they attempt to flee Border Force with cocaine in hull Cops raided his home and unearthed more than £4,000 in cash – £1,000 stashed in his bedroom and £3,000 tucked a box in a kitchen cupboard. Officers also searched his car and found a staggering 620g of cocaine with a street value estimated at around £34,000. But after being released from jail he formed a murky friendship with Harding, who had been born with hemifacial microsomia, a condition causing the left side of his face to be under-developed. He endured multiple surgeries as a child and teenager to correct a deformed left ear, cheek and jaw. "I was alienated by everyone at school because of it," he confessed at his Old Bailey trial, which ended this week. Jurors heard Harding had feelings for "boys and girls" as a teenager, but "suppressed" his homosexual desires. 16 Harding said he was born with hemifacial microsomia, a condition causing the left side of his face to be under-developed Credit: PA 16 Harding revealed he was attracted to girls and boys and bullied at school Credit: Central News 16 Drug lord Harding raked in £5m in just ten weeks while enjoying a life of luxury in Dubai Credit: Central News 16 Harding sent snaps on EncroChat of himself at the Waldorf Hotel in Ras Al Khaimah Credit: PA As a teenager, Harding, who grew up in Hampshire, began to sell legal highs to make money. He advertised the drugs using online classified adverts. But the scam backfired and in August 2012 he was arrested and charged with drugs offences and possession of false ID documents. In his bombshell Old Bailey this month, Harding returned to his childhood struggles for an extraordinary and elaborate defence. 16 Cops found boastful selfies drugs baron Harding took in his Bugatti Chiron supercar Credit: PA 16 Kharouti could not resist sending selfies using EncroChat leading to his downfall Credit: PA 16 A distinctive tattoo on Kahrouti's right hand confirmed his true identity Credit: PA 16 Harding was arrested at Geneva airport and extradited to the UK for a trial Credit: PA The court had previously heard from cops that Harding used the handle 'thetopskiing' while hatching plans on EncroChat. In a remarkable twist, Harding insisted he did not use the handle - but was sleeping with the man who did. Harding's lawyer Clare Montgomery KC explained: "He (Harding) has for a long time been too ashamed to admit, and has always wanted to keep private, until this case has forced him to reveal his secret life. "That secret is that he had an intense and sexual relationship with 'thetopsking'." Before he was sent to prison the first time, Harding had fathered a child in 2010. His relationship with the little girl's mother broke down while he was in jail - when she apparently told Harding that he was not the child's biological father. But when Harding was released from prison in 2016 his ex-girlfriend contacted him to apologise for the way she had treated him. That secret is that he had an intense and sexual relationship with 'thetopsking' Clare Montgomery KC "I'd always felt rejected," he moaned. "And I wanted to know why she would leave me like that. "She explained to me she wouldn't have just left me for anyone. Her daughter's dad had got back into contact with her and wanted to rebuild a relationship with his daughter." Despite this, Harding said he went on to rekindle his relationship with the mother and she and her daughter moved into his home in Alton, Hampshire. But three years later, he claimed his girlfriend and her daughter left the UK and moved to Dubai where the real father, 'thetopskiing' , was living. 16 The pair were smuggling millions of pounds worth of cocaine into the UK Credit: PA 16 Cops confiscated packages of drugs following the investigation Credit: PA Harding later joined them - and recalled how HE fell for the mystery man too. He said he always found 'thetopskiing' or TK, good-looking and charming, but things changed after a boozy night out at the end of 2019. "We went to brunch at a place called Mama Zonia in Dubai, and after that a group of us went back to TK's villa, and after some time people were leaving," he said. "TK and I were drinking, and drinking quite a lot, and we ended up becoming intimate. "I wasn't proud of myself at all. I felt disgusted with myself." Harding claimed he was taken advantage of and used by 'thetopskiing' to book flights and restaurants. 16 Cops found bundles of cash found in the boot of one of their cars Credit: PA 16 Police also seized piles of cash and a counting machine Credit: PA Despite his denials, cops since proved that in fact Harding was 'thetopskiing' following a major cyber investigation. Harding gave away his true identity through a series of boastful selfies which showed his face, distinctive clothing and tattoos. They were able to prove that he and Kharouti had teamed up to import vast quantities of drugs. Their messages from 2020 revealed that "thetopsking" told other users when "lands" of cocaine were going to happen, and provided them with co-ordinates to collect the drugs close to Dover, where they had entered the UK by lorry. As a result Harding was arrested at Geneva Airport in Switzerland in December 2021, and extradited back to the UK. His United Arab Emirates residence permit gave his profession as a sales executive of luxury watches. His second in command Kharouti was extradited from Turkey to the UK last June.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Monster GUILTY of stabbing Daniel Anjorin, 14, to death and slashing at cops with Samurai sword in ‘ferocious' rampage
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MONSTER has been found guilty of stabbing tragic Daniel Anjorin to death and slashing at cops with a Samurai sword in a "ferocious" rampage. Marcus Arduini Monzo ambushed the 14-year-old on April 30 last year as he made his way to school in Hainault, East London. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Daniel Anjorin was stabbed to death as he walked to school Credit: Central News 8 Marcus Arduini Monzo carried out a gruesome rampage Credit: PA 8 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 found guilty of murder and three counts of attempted murder following a trial at the Old Bailey. Jurors heard he killed 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. Donato was the first to be attacked when Monzo "deliberately" drove into him in his van. As he was knocked into a garden, Monzo got out the van and slashed his neck with the Samurai sword. Donato managed to escape as emergency crews were scrambled to the residential street. Moment 'killer' brands sword 'sexy' before he 'murdered, 14, boy in rampage' Meanwhile, Daniel was walking to school "minding his own business" when his life was "snuffed out in an instant". Chilling footage showed 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 the youngster woke up and started to cry. 8 Monzo attacked officers in an alleyway Credit: PA 8 He also slashed at an ambulance as paramedics arrived to treat Daniel Credit: Central News 8 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. He said he was "concerned" as the drink has caused a "negative response" in some people. Killer's chilling internet history revealed for 1st time MARCUS Monzo's web history was a chilling mix of violence, conspiracy theories, Incel and far-right extremism. It can today be reported for the first time that he had liked posts on X which praised Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Over a year, Monzo's X account also liked references to various antisemitic conspiracy theories and misogynistic Incel material. He shared memes about being a flat earther and showed a creepy interest in controversial public figures such as Andrew Tate. Monzo's social media accounts also underlined his fascination with traditional Japanese samurai and katana swords. On TikTok, his FreeKingMark profile described him as a mystic, musician, martial artist, jedi and a ninja. While his Pinterest account, the FreeKingMark, had saved dozens of images featuring figures with samurai swords and other weapons. Less than two weeks before the attack, Monzo uploaded a video of himself to an Instagram account called 'FreeKingMark' repeatedly punching a bag in the gym. Another photo, posted on January 25 last year, showed him smiling with two thumbs up and a number of medals from a Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition around his neck. 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. He was remanded into custody to be sentenced on Friday. Kirsty O'Connor, from 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. "I would also like to pay tribute to the brave police officers and emergency workers who faced Marcos Arduini-Monzo on that terrifying day in April 2024, putting their own personal safety at risk in the line of duty. "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." 8 The so-called 'mystic' had bought the Samurai sword online Credit: PA
