LONDON (AP) – A man named Marcus Arduini Monzo, armed with a samurai sword, was convicted of murder on Wednesday after killing 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin in a shocking act of violence that took place during a psychotic episode allegedly triggered by drug use.
The jury at London’s Central Criminal Court found Monzo guilty of murder, along with three counts of attempted murder, one count of grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary, and possession of a bladed article. Monzo, who is 37 years old and has dual Spanish and Brazilian citizenship, had admitted to carrying two samurai swords but denied the other charges leveled against him.
The fatal incident occurred in April 2024 in the Hainault area of northeast London. The attack began when Monzo struck a pedestrian with his van, telling the victim he intended to kill him. After slashing the man’s neck, the injured victim managed to escape. Monzo then ambushed Daniel Anjorin, who was wearing headphones and did not hear the warnings from nearby neighbors. Witness Aiste Dabasinskaite recounted the horrifying moments, saying, "We were shouting and waving towards Daniel as he came out. He had his headphones in so he wouldn’t hear us. It just happened right before our eyes, it was horrible."
In a brutal assault, Monzo nearly beheaded Anjorin and continued to stab him as he lay defenseless on the ground. When police arrived to assist the critically injured boy, Monzo leapt from nearby bushes and attempted to flee. Constable Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield pursued him and suffered severe injuries, including a fractured skull and lasting nerve damage, after Monzo lunged at her.
Monzo then entered a nearby home where a couple was asleep with their 4-year-old daughter. He awakened them by shouting about believing in God and attacked the girl’s father, wounding him in the neck and arm. In his final act of violence before being subdued by police using a stun gun, Monzo struck police Inspector Moloy Campbell once with the sword.
During the trial, details emerged about Monzo’s mental state and beliefs. He claimed to have turned to yoga and embarked on a spiritual quest after an injury in mixed martial arts. Monzo also stated he was influenced by his time in India, where he used ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic substance, and regularly smoked marijuana. Prosecutors highlighted his troubling social media activity, which included interests in violence, far-right extremism, and conspiracy theories, including vaccine misinformation and admiration for Adolf Hitler.
In his own defense, Monzo expressed controversial beliefs, including asserting that the Earth is flat and that the 9/11 attacks were a conspiracy. He recounted a disturbing episode where a voice in his head urged him to kill and eat his cat to regain energy, a claim that added a layer of complexity to his mental health narrative. Despite his emotional testimony, he insisted he had no intention to kill anyone when he purchased the swords, claiming they were only for display purposes.
As the trial concluded, the jury faced the significant responsibility of determining Monzo’s culpability. While the prosecution argued that Monzo's actions were the result of a psychotic episode caused by drug use, they contended that he remained fully accountable for the chaos he inflicted. Kirsty O’Connor from the Crown Prosecution Service remarked, “The jury, by their unequivocal verdicts, have accepted the prosecution case.” She offered condolences to the family and friends of Daniel Anjorin and extended empathy to all victims affected by the attack, underscoring the widespread trauma resulting from Monzo’s rampage.
Monzo is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, and the ramifications of his violent actions continue to resonate within the community and beyond.
