What happened in Hainault murder trial as jury told six-year-old victim was 'nearly decapitated'
A man accused of "nearly decapitating" a 14-year-boy in a series of sword attacks in east London has denied murder.
Marcus Monzo denies murdering Daniel Anjorin with a samurai sword during an indiscriminate 20-minute attack on several people, including police officers, in Hainault, east London.
The 37-year-old is alleged to have begun the assault just before 7am on 30 April last year, the Old Bailey was told on the first day of his trial at Wednesday 4 June.
The court was told that Daniel was walking to school wearing headphones when he suffered the 'devastating and unsurvivable' knife injury.
Prosecutor Tom Little KC told jurors that none of the victims were known to Monzo and 'it did not matter who they were or indeed how old they were'.
He added: 'there can be little doubt that the defendant was intending to kill as many people as he could that day'.
It is alleged that Monzo began the attack by driving his Ford Transit into a pedestrian who was knocked into a nearby garden before crashing the vehicle.
Monzo is then said to have exited the van and struck the man in the neck with the sword before the man escaped, jurors were told.
The court heard how he then drove further down Laing Close, when he spotted Daniel, inflicting a wound that was 'essentially a near-decapitation'.
He then struck a police officer three times with the 60cm sword before entering a house through a backdoor and walking upstairs to attack a sleeping couple, the court was told.
Monzo only stopped the attack on the pair when a four-year-old began to cry, repeatedly asking 'do you believe in god?' before leaving the property through the front door, prosecutors allege.
He attacked another police officer before eventually being disarmed and arrested, Mr Little said.
In total Marcus Monzo faces ten charges, of which he has admitted two, having pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing an offensive weapon - a katana sword and a tanto katana sword.
He denies the other charges including murder, four counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article relating to a kitchen knife.
Prosecuters stated that Monzo had been under the influence of cannabis, and his 'conduct was brought about by self-induced intoxication in the form of drugs.'
Mr Little said: 'We say this 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.'
If a defendant's counsel uses this defence jurors will be asked to consider whether the defendant is guilty of murder, or guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility.
If convicted of murder he is likely to receive a life sentence, with a minimum tariff set by the judge, and if found guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility several sentencing options are available to the judge.
The court must consider the extent to which the offender's responsibility was diminished by the mental disorder at the time of the offence, with high, medium and lower starting points available.
Theoretically a defendant can be sentenced from three to 40 years in prison, or even a hospital order option open to the court.
If convicted Monzo could also face an additional prison sentence for four counts of attempted murder, which also can carry sentences of between three and 40 years.
The death of Danial Anjorin shocked the nation with his parents, school, his pastor and his favourite football team, Arsenal leading the tributes.
In the wake of his death his family issued a statement paying tribute to their son, saying: 'Our children have lost their loving and precious brother, and we have lost the most loved and amazing son.'
His school, Bancroft's School, in Woodford Green, said they had been left in 'profound shock and sorrow' at the 'gentle' boys death.
A statement said: 'We are devastated by the heartbreaking news of the death of Daniel Anjorin, who attended our school. This has left us in profound shock and sorrow.
'Daniel joined Bancroft's at seven years old and quickly became a core member of our community. He was a true scholar, demonstrating commendable dedication to his academic pursuits. His positive nature and gentle character will leave a lasting impact on us.'
In the wake of his death, Arsenal projected Daniel's picture on screens at the Emirates Stadium before a Premier League match against Bournemouth.
A banner reading 'RIP Daniel' was held up by the crowd with a scheduled moment of applause in the 14th minute.
In the days following his death his pastor Tope Koleoso, at Jubilee Church, London, posted a video to Facebook saying that the Anjorins had been members of their church for over 15 years and Daniel was baptised there.
'As a church, whatever touches them, touches us all,' he said.
The trial continues.
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Hainault murder accused had 'clear intention' to kill 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin in sword attack, court told
The man accused of murdering 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin had a "clear intention to kill" during a series of drug-fuelled sword attacks, a jury has heard at the Old Monzo denies murdering the teenager who was on his way to school after leaving his home in Hainault, east London, at 7am on 30 April last year. The 37-year-old Spanish-Brazilian national, from Newham, is accused of murder, four counts of attempted murder and one count of wounding with intent, among other offences. Mr Monzo is charged with a total of 10 offences, eight of which he denies. 'Near-decapitation' Prosecutor Tom Little KC, outlining the case against Monzo, said the accused had a "clear intention" to kill several people during a series of attacks which lasted 20 minutes. Mr Little told the jury that Daniel was "simply walking to school" when he was "slain" with a sword, which he described as 60cm in length, and as a "lethal weapon". This weapon, he said, was used to attack Daniel from behind, slashing his neck, before stabbing him in the chest once he was on the ground. Mr Monzo had "quickly moved like a predator", the prosecutor told the court. The initial blow, he said, was a "devastating" and "unsurvivable chopping injury" to the left side of Daniel's face, causing a "near-decapitation". First alleged victim Mr Little told the jury that before allegedly murdering Daniel that day, the defendant drove a grey van directly into a man called Donato Iwule, who was walking to the Co-op, where he worked. The vehicle struck with "such force" that it sent Iwule and the van into a garden, smashing a fence and a concrete post. The court was shown footage of Monzo getting out of the van and confronting Iwule, who shouted, "I don't know you" to the defendant. Following a brief chase, Mr Little said, the accused "swings" a sword towards Iwule's neck and then torso. However, Iwule escaped, and it was "remarkable" he was not killed or significantly injured, Little said. Police officers with 'significant injuries' The defendant is also accused of injuring police officers who came to Hainault to help Daniel. It's alleged he jumped out at PC Yasmin Margaret Mechem-Whitfield, causing "significant injuries". PC Mechem-Whitfield "bravely pursued" the accused, the prosecutor added, and was hit three times by the sword. 'Do you believe in God?' The jury also heard that Monzo broke into a family home - "not to hide", Mr Little said, but because he wanted to "kill more". Monzo entered a small bedroom where Sindy Arias and Henry De Los Rios Polania were asleep with their four-year-old daughter, and allegedly asked them: "Do you believe in God?" "What happened there must have been horrifying and confusing," Mr Little told the court, as Monzo attempted to swing his sword at both Mr De Los Rios Polania and Ms Arias. Read more on Sky News:Putin wants revenge for Kyiv's airbase attacks, Trump warns Mr Little said that the defendant "must have intended to kill both", but was "stopped in his tracks" by the sound of a crying four-year-old who had been woken up by the commotion. He then left the property. A second officer, Inspector Moloy Campbell, was allegedly stabbed with a sword during an attempt to apprehend Monzo and injured his hand. The defendant was eventually detained while trying to climb onto a garage to escape. He also "killed and skinned" a cat before the attacks, Mr Little told the court. 'Diminished responsibility' The prosecutor told the jury that the defence will be using the argument of diminished responsibility, which would reduce the murder offence to one of manslaughter. Mr Little added that the defence has the burden of proof to show the jury that their client did not mean to murder Daniel, and that it was more likely than not that he did not intend to commit murder. He also said that Monzo allegedly smoked cannabis that morning - described as a "self-induced intoxication" - and likely suffered from a psychotic disorder with "schizophrenic-like symptoms", including "delusional beliefs" that both he and his family were in "mortal danger". However, Mr Little argued, this won't be enough to diminish Monzo's responsibility. The prosecutor said the defendant was "fit to plead", and so the "defence of insanity" does not apply.
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What happened in Hainault murder trial as jury told six-year-old victim was 'nearly decapitated'
A man accused of "nearly decapitating" a 14-year-boy in a series of sword attacks in east London has denied murder. Marcus Monzo denies murdering Daniel Anjorin with a samurai sword during an indiscriminate 20-minute attack on several people, including police officers, in Hainault, east London. The 37-year-old is alleged to have begun the assault just before 7am on 30 April last year, the Old Bailey was told on the first day of his trial at Wednesday 4 June. The court was told that Daniel was walking to school wearing headphones when he suffered the 'devastating and unsurvivable' knife injury. Prosecutor Tom Little KC told jurors that none of the victims were known to Monzo and 'it did not matter who they were or indeed how old they were'. He added: 'there can be little doubt that the defendant was intending to kill as many people as he could that day'. It is alleged that Monzo began the attack by driving his Ford Transit into a pedestrian who was knocked into a nearby garden before crashing the vehicle. Monzo is then said to have exited the van and struck the man in the neck with the sword before the man escaped, jurors were told. The court heard how he then drove further down Laing Close, when he spotted Daniel, inflicting a wound that was 'essentially a near-decapitation'. He then struck a police officer three times with the 60cm sword before entering a house through a backdoor and walking upstairs to attack a sleeping couple, the court was told. Monzo only stopped the attack on the pair when a four-year-old began to cry, repeatedly asking 'do you believe in god?' before leaving the property through the front door, prosecutors allege. He attacked another police officer before eventually being disarmed and arrested, Mr Little said. In total Marcus Monzo faces ten charges, of which he has admitted two, having pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing an offensive weapon - a katana sword and a tanto katana sword. He denies the other charges including murder, four counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article relating to a kitchen knife. Prosecuters stated that Monzo had been under the influence of cannabis, and his 'conduct was brought about by self-induced intoxication in the form of drugs.' Mr Little said: 'We say this 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.' If a defendant's counsel uses this defence jurors will be asked to consider whether the defendant is guilty of murder, or guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility. If convicted of murder he is likely to receive a life sentence, with a minimum tariff set by the judge, and if found guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility several sentencing options are available to the judge. The court must consider the extent to which the offender's responsibility was diminished by the mental disorder at the time of the offence, with high, medium and lower starting points available. Theoretically a defendant can be sentenced from three to 40 years in prison, or even a hospital order option open to the court. If convicted Monzo could also face an additional prison sentence for four counts of attempted murder, which also can carry sentences of between three and 40 years. The death of Danial Anjorin shocked the nation with his parents, school, his pastor and his favourite football team, Arsenal leading the tributes. In the wake of his death his family issued a statement paying tribute to their son, saying: 'Our children have lost their loving and precious brother, and we have lost the most loved and amazing son.' His school, Bancroft's School, in Woodford Green, said they had been left in 'profound shock and sorrow' at the 'gentle' boys death. A statement said: 'We are devastated by the heartbreaking news of the death of Daniel Anjorin, who attended our school. This has left us in profound shock and sorrow. 'Daniel joined Bancroft's at seven years old and quickly became a core member of our community. He was a true scholar, demonstrating commendable dedication to his academic pursuits. His positive nature and gentle character will leave a lasting impact on us.' In the wake of his death, Arsenal projected Daniel's picture on screens at the Emirates Stadium before a Premier League match against Bournemouth. A banner reading 'RIP Daniel' was held up by the crowd with a scheduled moment of applause in the 14th minute. In the days following his death his pastor Tope Koleoso, at Jubilee Church, London, posted a video to Facebook saying that the Anjorins had been members of their church for over 15 years and Daniel was baptised there. 'As a church, whatever touches them, touches us all,' he said. The trial continues.
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2 days ago
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Swordsman accused of murdering schoolboy ‘became psychotic after taking cannabis'
A man who murdered a 14-year-old schoolboy with a Japanese sword experienced psychotic episodes after taking cannabis, a court has heard. Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, believed 'he was in a battle against evil forces' when he allegedly stabbed Daniel Anjorin as he walked to school in Hainault, north-east London, on April 30 last year. He is said to have 'moved quickly like a predator' behind Daniel before inflicting a 'devastating and unsurvivable chopping injury' to his face and neck. The Spanish-Brazilian national, from Newham, east London, is also accused of attacking four others, including two police officers, during a 20-minute rampage. He has denied eight of the 10 charges against him, including murder. A trial at the Old Bailey heard on Wednesday that Mr Monzo's mental state had been 'materially altered' by cannabis use and, at the time of the alleged attack, he had 'developed a cannabis induced fully fledged psychotic episode characterised by reality distortion symptoms'. Tom Little KC, prosecuting, said Mr Monzo was 'informed by his delusional beliefs that he and his family were in mortal danger, and that he was engaged in a battle against evil forces at a time of revelation or Armageddon'. He said cannabis was identified in Mr Monzo's urine and blood samples after the incident and a 'large amount' of cannabis was also found in a search of his house along with a 'skinned and deboned cat'. Mr Little, quoting forensic psychiatrist Prof Nigel Blackwood, who will later be called by the prosecution, said: 'In Prof Blackwood's opinion, cannabis misuse appears to have been the principal driver of his mental state deterioration at this time. 'The violence would not, in Prof Blackwood's opinion, have happened in the absence of such voluntary substance misuse.' Mr Monzo appeared in the dock wearing a bright green jumper with short, cropped hair and stubble. He looked furtively around the court at times and spoke often to security guards sitting on either side of him. Daniel's family were also in the court. Mr Little said Mr Monzo had left his home just before 6.30am in his van, wearing a yellow Quiksilver hoodie, black trousers, and black shoes. He said the attack started at about 6.51am when he drove his van into Donato Iwule, a pedestrian in Laing Close, causing him to be 'catapulted some distance into a garden'. Video footage of the incident was played to the jury, in which Mr Iwule, who had been walking to a Co-Op store where he worked, can be heard screaming in pain. Mr Monzo allegedly then left the vehicle and approached Mr Iwule with a samurai sword. Mr Little said: 'Donato Iwule shouted at him 'I don't know you' and the defendant said 'I don't care, I will kill you'. 'That comment from the defendant tells you, you may think, everything you need to know about his intention that morning.' Mr Monzo is alleged to have swung his sword at Mr Iwule's neck and torso, but he was able to roll away and escape over a fence. 'If he had not managed to escape, it seems inevitable that he too would have been killed,' said Mr Little. Mr Monzo is then said to have driven further down Laing Close before exiting the vehicle. At this time, the court heard that Daniel had left his home and was walking to school wearing sports clothes, his backpack, and headphones. Mr Little said: 'The defendant had obviously seen him and the defendant then moved quickly like a predator behind Daniel Anjorin. 'He lifted the sword above his head and then swung it downwards towards Daniel's head and neck area. 'Daniel instantly fell to the ground. The defendant then leant over him and used the sword again to injure Daniel.' He added: 'The force used was extreme. It involved a devastating and unsurvivable chopping injury to the left-hand side of Daniel's face and neck'. Mr Monzo is then said to have taken off Daniel's backpack, dragging the schoolboy's body along the road in the process. The court heard that emergency services had been called to the scene at this time. Mr Monzo is said to have then attacked Pc Yasmin Margaret Mechem-Whitfield, who pursued him down a series of alleyways behind residential properties while he was still armed. He is then alleged to have entered a nearby house where he attacked a couple in their bedroom. Mr Little said the couple's lives had been spared only because 'their four-year-old child woke up and started crying'. He said there were many police officers in the area at that time, and that Mr Monzo then became 'surrounded in a garage area nearby to the other attacks', where he attacked another police officer. Mr Monzo was finally disarmed and detained after he climbed onto the roof of the garage, he said. Asked about the attack in a police interview, Mr Monzo said his personality switched and that 'something happened, like a game happening', and it was like 'the movie Hunger Games'. Mr Little said: 'He said that one of his personalities is a professional assassin.' In court last month, Mr Monzo denied eight of the 10 charges against him but admitted two counts of having an offensive weapon – a katana sword and a tanto katana sword. He also pleaded not guilty to the attempted murders of Mr Iwule, Sindy Arias, Henry De Los Rios Polania and Pc Mechem-Whitfield as well as wounding Insp Moloy Campbell with intent. Mr Monzo denied aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article relating to a kitchen knife. The trial continues. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
