Man found guilty of murdering 14-year-old boy he nearly decapitated with samurai sword
A man has been found guilty of murdering a 14-year-old with a sword in Hainault last year and injuring others in a rampage he compared to The Hunger Games.
37-year-old Marcus Arduini Monzo killed 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin with a samurai sword in April last year, having previously killed and skinned his pet cat.
A court heard how Monzo had been seen 'screaming in delight' after killing Anjorin, who had been walking to school.
The Old Bailey was told that the 37-year-old went into 'cannabis induced psychosis' on 30 April, 2024 when he skinned his pet cat Wizard and then almost decapitated Daniel, with the schoolboy dying as a result.
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He also attacked another pedestrian, two police officers and a couple in their home before he was arrested.
Anjorin's family said at the time that they were 'devastated by the loss of our beloved son Daniel'.
Speaking at his trial, Monzo claimed he had no memory of being the attacker and claimed he had diminished responsibility as he attacked anyone he came across for a 20 minute period in Hainault.
The man claimed he had an alternative personality of a 'professional assassin', but prosecutors argued that his psychosis was no excuse for murder.
A jury has found the 37-year-old guilty of murdering Daniel along with charges of attempted murder, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article relating to a kitchen knife.
He was cleared of one count of attempted murder but found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The court heard how Monzo started his attack by driving a Ford Transit into Donato Iwule, knocking him into a nearby garden before striking the man in the neck with a samurai sword.
PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield was struck with the blade three times with 'extreme force' while attempting to pursue the man, and he then broke into a couple's house and attacked them while they were sleeping in bed with their young daughter nearby.
Inspector Molloy Campbell was slashed on the hand attempting to arrest Monzo, who then climbed onto a nearby garage roof before he was arrested.
The Spanish-Brazilian national's social media activity showed it was full of far-right conspiracy theories and that Monzo had 'liked' posts which praised Adolf Hitler.
His X account was associated with antisemitic conspiracy theories and incel material, as well as support for figures such as Elon Musk, David Icke and Andrew Tate.
During his trial, he said he believed the world was flat and that the 9/11 terror attacks were 'probably' a conspiracy theory.
He will be sentenced on 27 June.
Joe Harker