A man has been found guilty of murdering 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin with a samurai sword in a rampage in Hainault, north-east London, last year. Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, was convicted at the Old Bailey on Friday of killing the schoolboy, who was just 14 metres from his home when he was attacked on 30 April 2024.
The court heard that Arduini Monzo, a former Amazon delivery driver, carried out the attack while in a state of cannabis-induced psychosis. He was also found guilty of three counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon. Witnesses described him screaming “in delight” and smiling after killing Daniel.
During the 20-minute rampage, Arduini Monzo used a 60cm sword to attack four people, including a pedestrian and a man at home with his partner and young child. Prosecutor Tom Little KC told jurors it was “miraculous” that more people were not killed. After the attack, Arduini Monzo likened events to the film The Hunger Games and claimed to have an alternative persona of a “professional assassin”. He had also killed and skinned his pet cat shortly before the rampage.
In court, Arduini Monzo said he had no memory of the attack and claimed his mental state diminished his responsibility. However, the prosecution argued that psychosis brought on by self-induced intoxication was no defence for murder. The jury accepted the prosecution case, rejecting his defence that he was vulnerable to psychotic episodes triggered by cannabis use.
Daniel’s parents described him as a “loving and precious brother” and “the most loved and amazing son”. They said they were “devastated by the loss of our beloved son Daniel” and struggling to accept he would never come home. Arduini Monzo, a dual Spanish-Brazilian national living in Newham, east London, had an online profile revealing interests in violence, conspiracy theories and far-right extremism.
He was cleared of one count of attempted murder but found guilty of the lesser offence of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to Henry De Los Rios Polania. Sentencing is expected at a later date.
