Latest news with #DrEbenezerAnjorin
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Daniel Anjorin's parents describe heartbreak after sword killer jailed for life
The father of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin has spoken of his heartbreak after the schoolboy's killer was jailed for at least 40 years. Marcus Monzo, 37, was sentenced at the Old Bailey after embarking on a 20-minute rampage through Hainault, east London, on April 30 last year. He was also convicted of attacking three more members of the public and two police officers. Speaking outside court after the sentencing on Friday, Dr Ebenezer Anjorin said it marked the end of a 'painful and deeply traumatic chapter' and paid tribute to their son's 'generous spirit'. Reading a statement alongside Daniel's mother, Grace, he said: 'This has been a painful and deeply traumatic chapter in our lives. 'No verdict or sentence can bring back our son Daniel, who we loved so dearly, but we are grateful that justice has been served. 'Daniel was taken from us in a way that no family should ever have to endure. 'His life had so much potential ahead. 'He was gifted academically, was kind and had a generous spirit that touched everyone who knew him. 'We carry that light with us, even in this dark time. 'We want to express our deepest thanks to the police, prosecution team, and all those who worked tirelessly to seek the truth. 'Your dedication has meant more than words can fully convey. 'To everyone who has supported us through this ordeal, friends, family, our church, our workplaces, our children's schools and even strangers, thank you. 'Your love and support has been a lifeline. 'We honour Daniel's memory, not in the shadow of this tragedy but through the love and happiness that he brought to us and all those who knew him. 'Thank you.'
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Daniel Anjorin's father describes ‘painful and traumatic chapter' after son's killer jailed for life
The family of a boy murdered with a samurai sword in an unprovoked attack in east London last year has described losing their son as a 'painful and deeply traumatic chapter.' Daniel Anjorin, 14, was walking to school in his PE kit when he was ambushed by Marcus Arduini Monzo during a 20-minute rampage in Hainault. Monzo, 37, was convicted on Wednesday (25 June) of Daniel's murder, three counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent, aggravated burglary, and possessing a bladed article. He was sentenced to life on Friday. Daniel's father, Dr Ebenezer Anjorin, said: 'Daniel was taken from us in a way that no family should ever have to endure.' 'His life had so much potential ahead,' he added.
BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Daniel Anjorin's parents talk of their loss after killer jailed
The heartbroken family of murdered schoolboy Daniel Anjorin have spoken after his killer was ordered to serve at least 38 years in Monzo fatally wounded the 14-year-old with a samurai sword after he left his home in Hainault, east London, on 30 April last sentence at the Old Bailey, Judge Mr Justice Bennathan said Monzo inflicted an "unsurvivable wound".Outside court Daniel's mother, Grace Anjorin, was joined by his father, Dr Ebenezer Anjorin, who read the following statement. This has been a painful and deeply traumatic chapter in our lives. No verdict or sentence can bring back our son Daniel, who we loved so dearly but we are grateful that justice has been was taken from us in a way that no family should ever have to endure. His life had so much potential ahead. He was gifted academically, was kind and had a generous spirit that touched everyone who knew carry that light with us, even in this dark time. We want to express our deepest thanks to the police, prosecution team, and all those who worked tirelessly to seek the truth. Your dedication has meant more than words can fully convey. To everyone who has supported us through this ordeal, friends, family, our church, our workplaces, our children's schools and even strangers: thank you. Your love and support has been a honour Daniel's memory not in the shadow of this tragedy but through the love and happiness that he brought to us and all those who knew him. Thank you.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
Samurai sword murderer gets life in prison for a rampage that killed a London schoolboy last year
A man armed with a samurai sword who murdered a London boy on his way to school during a rampage that seriously injured five other people was sentenced Friday to life in prison. Marcus Arduini Monzo was condemned as 'wicked' by Daniel Anjorin's father, who described the agony of finding his 14-year-old son crumpled in a pool of blood outside their home shortly after he'd left for school on April 30, 2024. 'It has been the worst nightmare experience of our lives," Dr. Ebenezer Anjorin said during the sentencing in the Central Criminal Court. "To have to go through the pain of losing a child in such a cruel and savage way. No family should have to go through this.' Monzo, 37, was convicted Wednesday of Anjorin's murder, along with three counts of attempted murder and one count each of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary and possessing a bladed article. Justice Joel Bennathan set the scene of the crime on the streets of east London, where he said people had just set out for work and children were headed to school, when Monzo plowed his van into a pedestrian and unleashed a 20-minute frenzied attack that came to an end only after police used a stun gun to immobilize him. 'That peaceful, busy scene was devastated as members of the public were attacked, police officers were gravely injured, a couple were terrified in their own home, and a clever, talented, much-loved young boy was killed by a savage blow with a sword," Bennathan said. "You, Marcos Arduini Monzo, did all of that.' Prosecutors said that drug use triggered the psychotic episode that turned violent when Monzo killed his cat, Wizard, after voices in his head told him the pet was sapping his energy and he needed to kill and eat it. Before he could do that, though, he said he was overcome by feeling that Armageddon was imminent and he left his home in his van for his parent's house. On the way, he rammed his car into security guard Donato Iwule, who he attacked with the sword and said he was going to kill him. He slashed the man's neck, but Iwule was able to get away. Monzo then ambushed Anjorin, who was wearing headphones, and didn't hear a neighbor warning him of the swordsman. 'We were shouting and waving towards Daniel as he came out,' Aiste Dabasinskaite said after the attack. 'It just happened right before our eyes, it was horrible.' Monzo nearly beheaded the teen with the 2-foot (60-centimeter) blade and stabbed him as he lay on the ground. When police officers arrived and tried to help the boy, Monzo sprang from bushes nearby and bolted. Constable Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield gave chase and suffered what police said were 'brutal and life-changing' injuries including a fractured skull and severe nerve damage when he lunged at her. Monzo then broke into a nearby home, where he awoke a couple who had been sleeping with their 4-year-old daughter. He shouted about believing in God and attacked the girl's father, wounding his neck and arm. In his final act of violence, he struck police Inspector Moloy Campbell once with the sword before he was subdued with a stun gun and arrested. Jurors determined Monzo was responsible for his actions after prosecutors argued that the attack was caused by his cannabis use, rather than an underlying mental health condition. Monzo, who has dual Spanish and Brazilian citizenship, said that an injury from mixed martial arts had led him on a spiritual quest and he consumed ayahuasca, a hallucinogen, and frequently smoked marijuana. Prosecutors said Monzo had an interest in violence, far-right extremism and conspiracy theories. He had shared vaccine misinformation and liked social media posts on X praising Adolf Hitler. Monzo told jurors he believed that the Earth was flat and that the 9/11 attack was 'probably' a conspiracy. He also spoke about his practice of drinking his own urine.
The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
Father describes ‘worst nightmare' of finding son in pool of blood after Hainault sword attack as killer jailed for 40 years
A father has recalled the moment he found his son lying in a pool of blood after he was murdered with a samurai sword in an unprovoked attack as his killer was jailed for at least 40 years. Kind and thoughtful Daniel Anjorin, 14, was walking to school in his PE kit when he was ambushed by Marcus Arduini Monzo during a 20-minute rampage in Hainault, east London. The 37-year-old killer was high on cannabis and in a drug-fuelled psychosis during the spree, which also left five people wounded. Wearing a green jumper and grey prison-issue tracksuit, Monzo stared straight ahead as he was sentenced to life in prison. Less time already served on remand, he will serve a minimum of 38 years and 309 days before he is eligible for parole. Judge Mr Justice Bennathan told Monzo that the peaceful, busy scene as people left for work and school on the morning of 30 April last year was 'devastated' by his actions after he arrived in a 'clearly psychotic state'. 'A clever, talented and much-loved young boy was killed by a savage blow with a sword,' he said. 'You, Marcus Arduini Monzo, did that.' Daniel's father, Dr Ebenezer Anjorin, told the Old Bailey on Friday the talented schoolboy set off at 7am, but within 15 minutes he was told by his eldest son that Daniel had been stabbed near their home. 'I ran outside of the house and just across the road I saw a hunched-up body by the side on the road,' he recalled in a victim personal statement read to the court by prosecutor Tom Little KC. 'I did not realise that it was Daniel at first but as I got closer, I recognised the school sports clothes and saw his face.' He was 'lying in a pool blood' and had a 'deep cut' to the side of his face, he said. 'He was motionless,' the father said. 'I knew at once he was dead. I reached out and called his name and held his head.' When Daniel's mother arrived at the scene and saw paramedics working on her son, she screamed and cried, he added. Paying tribute to the 'much loved son and brother', who leaves behind an older brother and younger sister, the grieving father added: 'It has been the worst nightmare experience of our lives to have to go through the pain of losing a child in such a cruel and savage way.' The father said he will never see Daniel, who was a gifted student who enjoyed sports and played the violin and piano, take his exams and go to university. 'Daniel had so much potential to excel in so many areas, he could have been a great scientist, financier, or business founder,' the father said. 'We will not see him get married or have children. All the normal things that parents hope for their children. 'All these hopes and aspirations have been cruelly snatched away from us through the wicked actions of Marcus Monzo.' Dr Anjorin said Monzo was a "danger to society" and had shown no remorse or apologised for his actions. He added that the "completely random, savage attack" on a school child had "shocked the community and the whole country". Monzo, who had a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, also attacked a pedestrian, two police officers and a couple in their own home in the horrifying spree. Mr Little KC previously told jurors it was 'miraculous' that more people were not killed as Monzo slashed and chopped at those he came across. The trial heard Monzo had killed and skinned his pet cat, Wizard, and mowed down passer-by Donato Iwule with a van before attacking Daniel, who was walking to school with his headphones in at around 7am. Witness Maria Olmos said Monzo dropped to his knees and held his hands up after he inflicted the mortal wounds on the unsuspecting teenager, who was a devoted Arsenal fan. 'At the time of doing so he let out an extremely loud scream,' she said. 'It wasn't a scream of pain, it was a scream of delight – my interpretation was he was celebrating.' Metropolitan Police officer Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield was struck three times with the sword and suffered significant injuries as she pursued him through alleyways. He then burst into a property and attacked a couple as they lay in bed, while shouting: 'Do you believe in God?' After once again escaping, he struck inspector Moloy Campbell once with the sword before he was finally arrested. Afterwards, he likened events to the Hollywood film The Hunger Games and claimed to have an alternative personality of a 'professional assassin'. In statements read to the court, Mr Iwule revealed he suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, flashbacks and is afraid to revisit the scene of the attack near Hainault station. PC Mechem-Whitfield has undergone four operations but is still unable to return to her work as a police officer. Inspector Campbell, who read a victim personal statement from the witness box, said the memory of hearing the radio transmission 'police officer stabbed, police officer stabbed' still makes him shiver. He has not regained complete movement and feeling in his hand. In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Bennathan praised the bravery of the officers, adding: "All the police officers behaved with exemplary courage and put their lives on the line to protect the public they served." The Brazilian national had admitted to possessing two swords but insisted he had no memory of what happened and claimed his mental state had diminished his responsibility for the crimes. Jurors at the Old Bailey this week found him guilty of murder, three counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent, aggravated burglary and possessing a bladed article. 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. Giving evidence in his three-week trial, Monzo told jurors he believed the Earth was flat and the 9/11 terrorist attack in the United States was 'probably' a conspiracy. He said his views were largely formed after he visited India and started consuming the hallucinogenic tea, ayahuasca, and cannabis. But no trace of DMT – the class-A drug in the tea – was detected in his system. Monzo, who liked to drink and wash in his own urine, described being bullied growing up in Brazil before his family moved to Britain in 2013.
