Murder accused killed pet cat before 20-minute spree of violence, court told

Independent

17 hours ago

An alleged sword attacker tried to cook and eat his pet cat, but claimed to have no memory of killing a schoolboy during a rampage in London.
Prosecutors say Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, skinned and deboned his cat Wizard before launching a 20-minute spree of violence in Hainault, east London, while allegedly under the influence of cannabis on 30 April last year.
Monzo is accused of murdering 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, as well as mowing down pedestrian Donato Iwule with a van and attacking two police officers and a couple in their home on April 30.
At the Old Bailey on Friday, Monzo cried as he said he did not intend to harm anybody.
In the days before the attacks, Monzo said he 'received guidance and communication' in his head that the cat 'was being used against me by negative forces'. He told jurors he took his pet cat to a park to get rid of it.
He said the cat returned to his Newham flat on the morning of the rampage, and that he strangled it despite claiming he did not want to.
Asked why it was skinned, he told jurors: 'After I strangled him he (the communication) was telling me that the cat had taken energy from me and to replenish and get the energy back I had to eat the cat.'
Monzo said he tried to cook it, but became 'panicked and rushed', believing an event 'like an Armageddon' was happening.
The defendant told jurors 'I didn't have time to eat the cat', so he put it in the back of his Ford Transit and picked up swords, a ball bearing gun and a backpack containing clothes.
He said: 'I had this idea that the world was collapsing… something big was happening, I didn't know exactly what, I had the idea that I wasn't coming back.'
Monzo said he then set off towards his parents' house.
He used his van to knock Mr Iwule into a garden, then slashed him in the neck with a samurai sword before the victim escaped, jurors heard.
Asked why he changed direction, the defendant said: 'That is something I have thought about a lot, every day, why just a block away from my parents house? A block later I would have arrived at their house.'
He then virtually decapitated Daniel, who was wearing headphones on his way to school, the court heard.
Pc Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield chased the defendant through alleyways before he struck her three times with the sword which had a 60cm blade, prosecutors say.
Monzo then allegedly entered a property and attacked a couple who were sleeping in an upstairs bedroom with their young daughter nearby.
He also struck Inspector Moloy Campbell once with the sword before he was arrested.
However, the defendant said he had no memory of what happened until he was tasered.
He told jurors: 'My memory after I left my home… gradually it becomes very vague and abstract… not very clear.'
Monzo said he was smoking cannabis 'three or four times a week' before the attack, but denied doing so on the day.
Jurors heard that he told an expert that cannabis was a 'major contributor' to the rampage, but he played down its effects on Friday. He told jurors he did not think it 'guided' the killing.
Monzo had earlier spoken of taking psychedelics and drinking his own urine years before amid an interest in spirituality.
Around 2017, he began following YouTube spiritual guru Sadhguru, which led to a year-long stay in India, jurors heard.
Monzo said he was taught at a retreat to detach from family and friends.
During a weekend trip, he took ayahuasca — a hallucinogenic brew traditionally used in South America.
He returned to the UK 'looking skinnier', before travelling to a remote part of Brazil to consume more ayahuasca, the court heard.
Monzo also said he took ayahuasca twice in the UK, describing it as having stronger effects during 'ceremonies'.
He later travelled again to Brazil and India, and also attended breatharian festivals in Italy and Denmark, which promote living without food, jurors were told.
On his return to the UK, Monzo said he argued with family members because he was 'not very clean'.
The defendant told the court he began drinking his own urine for 'cleaning' purposes.
He added: 'I would use it to shower, on the hair, even using it on the nose.'
After the attack, he likened events to Hollywood film The Hunger Games and claimed to have an alternative personality of a 'professional assassin', the court heard.
Monzo denies Daniel's murder and the attempted murders of Mr Iwule, Sindy Arias, Henry De Los Rios Polania and Ms Mechem-Whitfield, as well as wounding Mr Campbell with intent.
He also denies aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article relating to a kitchen knife.
Monzo admits having two swords.
The trial continues.