Hainault sword attacker given life behind bars for murder of schoolboy
Marcus Monzo will serve a minimum term of 40 years for 8 offences, including the murder of Daniel Anjourin.
Last updated 27th Jun 2025
A martial arts enthusiast has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 40 years for the murder of 14-year-old schoolboy Daniel Anjorin.
Marcus Monzo was described as going on a '20 minute rampage' when he attacked Daniel and a number of others on the 30th of April 2024.
He was found guilty by a jury of 8 counts, including murder and 3 counts of attempted murder.
Sentencing, Mr Justice Bennathan said: "Over 20 minutes - members of the public were attacked, police officers were gravely injured, a couple were terrified in their own home and a clever, talented young boy was killed.
"You, Marcus, did all of that.
"Daniel was a clever boy, he was gifted musically and played a variety of sports well.
"His loss is devastating to his parents, his brother and sister and his grandparents
"I am very conscious no sentence I can pass can even begin to temper Daniel's family's grief."
Mr Justice Bennathan told Monzo: "Your choosing to consume cannabis over months and days - was the dominant cause of your state that day.
"You had some warning of its adverse effect on you, you knew it made you paranoid and at least lead to panic attacks."
He added that his sentence was mitigated by his "previous good character" but that it was limited by his use of "unlawful drugs over the years".
Evidence heard during the Old Bailey trial
Witnesses described Marcus Arduini Monzo screaming "in delight" and smiling after mortally wounding Daniel, who had been walking to school in his PE kit.
Prosecutor Tom Little KC told jurors it was "miraculous" that more people weren't killed as Monzo slashed and chopped at whoever he came across over 20 minutes.
The 37 year old killed his cat before going on a sword rampage
Monzo had killed and skinned his pet cat Wizard before he ran amok in Hainault, north-east London, on April 30 last year.
As well as killing Daniel, Monzo, who had a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, also attacked a pedestrian, two police officers and a couple in their own home before he was arrested by police.
Afterwards, Monzo likened events to the Hollywood film The Hunger Games and claimed to have an alternative persona of a "professional assassin".
Giving evidence at his trial, he said he had no memory of what happened and claimed his mental state had diminished his responsibility for the crimes.
However, the prosecution argued that psychosis brought on by self-induced intoxication was no defence for murder.
The court had heard how Monzo launched the series of attacks by driving his grey Ford Transit van into Donato Iwule, who was "catapulted" into a nearby garden before the vehicle smashed into a concrete pillar and fence.
He went on to hit Mr Iwule in the neck with his sword before running away, the court was told.
He then virtually decapitated Daniel, who was wearing headphones on his way to school, jurors heard.
Pc Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield was hit three times with the 60cm long blade with "extreme force" as she chased Monzo through alleyways and residential properties.
Next he entered a property and attacked a couple who were sleeping in an upstairs bedroom with their young daughter nearby.
Monzo demanded to know if they "believe in God" before he left the property.
Inspector Molloy Campbell tried to detain Monzo in a car park and received a slash wound to his hand.
The defendant then climbed on to the roof of a garage before he was finally apprehended.
Victim impact statements:
In his victim impact statement, Daniel Anjourin's father, Dr Ebenezer Anjorin, described the moment he had realised what had happened to his son.
"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".
Dr Anjourin described Daniel as a clever boy who who had been invited to Cambridge university to find out more about the university. He continued to describe the impact of Daniel's death on the family.
"All these hopes and aspirations have been cruelly snatched away from us through the wicked actions of Marcus Monzo.
"As a family we have all had difficulty coming to terms with Daniel's loss and various members of family have undergone counselling/therapy over the course of the last 12 months, to cope with Daniel's loss.
"Daniel's grandparents have also lost a much-loved grandchild. Daniel brought great joy to them through his academic success, his kindness and thoughtfulness. Daniel's death has brought great sorrow and sadness to their lives and they miss him immensely.
"Our cousins have lost a close family friend and playmate. Daniel's school friends have lost a dear friend.
"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, knowing that they are thinking of him and missing him.
"This situation is something that we would not wish on anyone. 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".