
Alleged sword attacker ‘smiled' after slashing man in the neck, court hears
On Monday, jurors were shown CCTV of the first alleged attack, which showed Monzo's grey Ford Transit mounting the pavement and hitting Donato Iwule, a Co-op security guard on his way to work.
Footage captured Mr Iwule screaming in agony as he was struck by the van before it collided with a house.
Monzo is then seen exiting the vehicle and walking after him while brandishing a sword.
Giving evidence, Mr Iwule said: 'I thought I was dying.'
He told the court he tried to escape into a nearby garden but was struck on his knee, face and shoulder and knocked to the ground.
Marcus Arduini Monzo (Elizabeth Cook/PA)
He said Monzo got out of the van, pulled a sword from a cover 'right in front of my face' and threw the cover aside.
'I said 'I don't know you'… I said it multiple times,' Mr Iwule told prosecutor Tom Little KC.
'He said 'I don't care – I'm going to kill you'.'
Mr Iwule said he tried to defend himself and raised his arms but Monzo swung the sword, catching him on the neck.
'I saw blood coming out of my neck,' he said.
'I pressed my thumb to not bleed out… I shouted 'God is greatest' in Arabic – because I'm Muslim.
'When that happened, he was smiling like it was something that he was happy about.'
Mr Iwule said Monzo became distracted and he jumped over a fence to escape, later shouting at a schoolboy, believed to be Daniel, to go back inside.
Under cross-examination, Mr Iwule said he was standing upright when he was struck and could clearly hear Monzo say he was going to kill him.
Last week jurors heard how Monzo had skinned and deboned his own cat before carrying out the alleged attacks, and was under the influence of cannabis that may have led to drug-induced psychosis.
However, the prosecution says this does not amount to diminished responsibility.
Mitchell Hayes, a witness who was also on his way to work at the Co-op, said he saw the van 'going faster, slowing down, going faster' before the collision.
He said he later heard screaming, saw the driver walk around the van and then get back in and reverse away, appearing to hold what looked like a sword.
Mr Hayes said he stayed with Mr Iwule, who was holding his neck and bleeding, for 10 to 15 minutes before becoming aware of another incident nearby.
He said another colleague, Nathan Hutchinson, began shouting that the attacker had a sword and they saw a body on the other side of the road.
'He was running around with it like a maniac,' Mr Hayes said of the man he believed to be Monzo.
Monzo has admitted possessing two swords but denies murder, attempted murder, wounding with intent, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article.
The trial continues.

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Wales Online
12 hours ago
- Wales Online
Hate graffiti daubed on building due to be converted into mosque
Hate graffiti daubed on building due to be converted into mosque The incident occurred just weeks after a council granted a 30-year lease to the local Muslim Community Association Abergavenny's former library was defaced with graffiti (Image: Gareth Wilde ) A Grade-II listed building that was set to become a Welsh county's first mosque has been defaced with religious symbols and anti-Muslim graffiti in an act that one resident described as "a dark stain on us all". Police are treating the incident as a hate crime. Spray-painted Christian crosses and the words "No Masjid" were discovered on the former Abergavenny library just weeks after the council's Labour-led cabinet agreed to grant a 30-year lease to Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association (MMCA). The group, a not-for-profit organisation, intends to convert the building into the county's first mosque and community centre, serving the needs of Monmouthshire's growing and diverse Muslim population. The incident has been widely condemned by local residents and faith leaders as a shocking display of religious intolerance in a town known for its history of peaceful dissent and diversity. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here. The building, located in the town centre, has been out of use as a library since 2015 after services were moved to Abergavenny Town Hall. Since then it has housed several council-run services including adult education and most recently the pupil referral unit (PRU) for children unable to attend mainstream education. Article continues below The PRU has now relocated to new premises at Old Hereford Road leaving the building vacant once again. In May the council awarded the lease to MMCA citing the association's clear demonstration of local need. Abergavenny has the highest number of Muslims in Monmouthshire, which currently has no mosques. In contrast Cardiff has 24 mosques while Newport has eight and Swansea has seven. The former Abergavenny library building was set to become Monmouthshire's first mosque (Image: Google ) Since 2021 MMCA has been holding Friday congregational prayers at St Michael's Community Centre with the support of trustees from Our Lady and St Michael's parish. Their presence has grown steadily and they have also collaborated with schools and youth groups to promote interfaith understanding. Andrew Lewis, a local resident, welcomed their work and said: "The Muslim community locally have been doing some great community events. "I can only see that increasing with having their own dedicated community space. We have had them talking with Scouts as part of the World Faiths badge and I went to a Ramadan celebration and education evening at Crickhowell High School." Although the cabinet decision was approved, three councillors called in the lease agreement for review following concerns raised members of the community. The review meeting was scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 11, at Monmouthshire County Hall in Usk. The vandalism, which occurred just a day before that review, has triggered anger and soul-searching in the community. "I am disgusted at the vandals who have used a precious Christian symbol to object to a former library being used for Muslims to worship in our town," said Reverend Gareth Wilde, an accredited Baptist minister. "Abergavenny has a rich, peaceful history of non-conformist dissent from the 17th century where its adherents fought for religious freedom for those who didn't follow the established Church of England. "These would include Baptists, Congregationalists, Presbyterian and various other chapel-attending congregations. "Muslims are only asking to be treated with the same equality and respect and if anything should be prioritised above Christian churches wishing to use a community facility. "As an accredited Baptist minister I wholeheartedly agree with the MCC decision to let the Carnegie Library to Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association. Please be kind to Muslims in Wales." Another saddened resident said: "Never thought I'd see this in Abergavenny. A very sad day. We need to respect and understand everyone's beliefs and peacefully coexist in a society that has so much freedom." One local added: "I always thought that Abergavenny was a tolerant caring community and hopefully this abhorrent graffiti was perpetrated by some hateful person outside of our community. It remains a dark stain on us all. "This is no different from the religious persecution shown by the Nazis to the Jewish communities in the 1930s. Previous generations made a supreme sacrifice to overcome this kind of inhumanity. "It saddens me that the gross transgressions of the past are rearing their ugly head again." In response to the incident a sign has been placed over the graffiti reading: "What unites us is big + beautiful, what divides us is small + MEAN!" A Gwent Police spokesman said: 'We received a call at about 8.45am on Tuesday, June 10, reporting criminal damage after graffiti had been sprayed on the old library in Abergavenny overnight. 'This has now been cleaned off and we are treating it as a hate crime.' Inspector Emma Sowrey said: 'We have been carrying out onquiries to identify those responsible including house-to-house and reviewing CCTV. So far we've been able to establish that the damage happened at about 3am on June 10. 'I understand the concern that may be felt amongst our communities following this appalling incident which we are treating as a hate crime. 'We will not tolerate any such behaviour and are determined to identify the offenders and bring them to justice.' Anyone with any information is asked to call Gwent Police on 101 quoting 2500182567. You can also send a direct message on Facebook or X or online here. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit Article continues below Monmouthshire County Council has been approached for comment.

South Wales Argus
a day ago
- South Wales Argus
Abergavenny mosque site vandalised by racist graffiti
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Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Moment ‘killer' brands samurai sword ‘freaking sexy' before he ‘murdered boy, 14, in rampage'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the moment an alleged killer branded a samurai sword "freaking sexy" before he murdered a 14-year-old boy in a rampage, a court heard. Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, ambushed Daniel Anjorin, 14, as he made his way to school in Hainault, East London. 7 Marcus Arduini Monzo filmed himself unboxing a samurai sword, jurors heard Credit: Central News 7 He then allegedly went on to kill Daniel Anjorin Credit: Central News Jurors heard Monzo also tried to kill female cop Yasim Mechem-Whitfield, Henry De Los Rios Polina, Sindy Arias and Donato Iwule in the horror. Police today released footage shown to the court of the so-called "mystic" unboxing a Katana sword he had bought online. The Spanish-Brazilian national can be heard saying "wow" as he explains the weapon was "handmade in Japan". Monzo can be seen standing on a black mat with a ginger cat he calls the "Wizard" by his side. He tells the camera: "This just came through… Ninja stuff. So I'm sort of obliged to do some ninja stuff with the Wizard." Monzo then brands the sword "freaking sexy" and exclaims "ooh" as he lunges around holding the weapon. The court heard the 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. Jurors heard Monzo killed and skinned his own cat at home before setting off on the rampage after believing he was in the "Hunger Games". He carried out the attack with "murderous intent" over a 20-minute period on April 30, it was said. The Old Bailey heard Donato was the first to be attacked when Monzo "deliberately" drove into him in his van. As he was knocked into a garden, Monzo allegedly got out the van and slashed his neck with the Samurai sword. 7 Monzo filmed the unboxing video on his iPhone Credit: PA 7 He called the sword 'freaking sexy' 7 Monzo could be seen practising his martial arts in the video 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 court heard PC Mechem-Whitfield arrived at the scene of the horror and "bravely pursued" Monzo through alleyways after he tried to flee. The officer was "struck three times" and suffered significant injuries in the horror. Monzo then burst into a house to attack a couple in their bedroom as their child slept next to them, it was said. 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. Monzo was taken to hospital by police before going to Romford police station. NHS systems were checked and showed there were no documented mental health concerns or access to mental health services by Monzo. The court heard Monzo does not dispute he carried out the attacks. But the jury will have decide "why he did so and what his state of mind was" at the time. Prosecutor Tom Little KC said: "The prosecution case is that this is a clear case of murder and that it is also a clear case of four attempted murders. "We say that the defendant's conduct was brought about by self-induced intoxication in the form of drugs. "This, we say, led to a psychotic disorder but not one meeting the requirements to make out the partial defence to murder of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility." Monzo, of West Beckton, Newham, denies murder, four counts of attempted murder and one of wounding with intent. The trial continues. 7 Monzo is accused of injuring four others in the horror Credit: Central News