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STV News
a day ago
- STV News
Man allegedly murdered boy, 14, with sword in ‘brutal string of attacks'
Marcus Arduini Monzo denies murdering Daniel Anjorin, 14, in Hainault, north-east London, on April 30 last year, as ITV News' Ian Woods reports A man allegedly murdered a 14-year-old boy with a Samurai sword in a 'brutal string of attacks' that were indiscriminate, a court has heard. Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, is on trial charged with murdering Daniel Anjorin during a 20-minute spate of attacks in Hainault, north-east London, on April 30 last year. He denies the charge as well as four counts of attempted murder. Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court for a previous hearing. / Credit: Elizabeth Cook/PA None of the victims were known to Monzo and 'it did not matter who they were or indeed how old they were,' prosecutor Tom Little KC told the Old Bailey on Wednesday. He told jurors they may conclude 'there can be little doubt that the defendant was intending to kill as many people as he could that day and that he is therefore just as guilty of the four charges of attempted murder as he is the charge of murder' Prior to the incident, Monzo had skinned and deboned his own cat, the prosecutor said. . It is alleged the first attack was when Monzo drove his grey Ford Transit van at speed into Donato Iwule. The pedestrian was knocked into a nearby garden on Laing Close and the vehicle smashed a concrete pillar and fence, the court heard. The defendant then got out of his vehicle and struck Mr Iwule in the neck with the sword, jurors were told. Footage played to the court appeared to feature Mr Iwule wailing and later running away after the alleged murder attempt that started at 6.51am. Mr Little told jurors: 'If he had not managed to escape it seems inevitable that he too would have been killed.' The defendant then re-entered the badly damaged van and drove a short distance down Laing Close, the court heard. A police officer laying flowers on the corner of Laing Close. / Credit: Yui Mok/PA Daniel was wearing headphones and school sports clothes when he left home for school at 7am and was 'slain' by Monzo, Mr Little claimed. Emergency services were called and police and paramedics arrived 'at the point and just after' the alleged attack. Pc Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield pursued the armed defendant through a series of alleyways through residential properties, the court heard. Monzo struck her three times with the sword that had a 60cm blade, the prosecutor said. She sustained 'significant injuries' that could have 'easily' killed her, he added. Monzo is accused of then entering a nearby house through a backdoor and walking upstairs into a sleeping couple's bedroom and attacking them. Floral tributes at the end of Laing Close near the scene in Hainault. / Credit: Lucy North/PA Their daughter was sleeping in a bed next to theirs and Mr Little said: 'They were spared only because in fact the four-year-old child woke up and started to cry.' The defendant shouted to the couple on a number occasions, 'do you believe in god?' before leaving the property through the front door, the court heard. Police had been following the defendant and he was backed into a nearby garage area near to the other alleged attacks, the court heard. He is accused of then striking Inspector Moloy Campbell once with the sword before attempting to escape police. The defendant is said to have climbed on top a garage but he was eventually disarmed and arrested. Monzo denies Daniel's murder, and has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murders of Donato Iwule, Sindy Arias, Henry De Los Rios Polania and Pc Yasmin Margaret Mechem-Whitfield, as well as wounding Inspector Moloy Campbell with intent. He also denies aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article relating to a kitchen knife. Monzo previously admitted two counts of having an offensive weapon, namely two swords. Jurors were told these were the alleged murder weapon, and a Katana sword with a 22cm blade that was discovered in his van and had no blood on it. Mr Little argued there is 'no issue in this trial as to who carried out this brutal string of attacks and what the defendant did on that fateful early morning'. He said Monzo had been under the influence of cannabis, and that: 'We say that the defendant's conduct was brought about by self-induced intoxication in the form of drugs. '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.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
4 days ago
- STV News
Tourists flee after Mount Etna erupts, sending plumes of ash into the sky
Mount Etna is known for its frequent volcanic activity but Monday's eruption marked the biggest since 2014, as ITV News Correspondent John Ray reports Sicily's Mount Etna volcano has erupted, sending a plume of gases, ash and rock more than 6,000 metres into the sky on Monday, according to Italian authorities. The active volcano, which is Europe's tallest, erupted after a volcanic tremor was detected on Sunday evening. A lava fountain was also seen spurting from the crater. Social media footage appeared to show tourists fleeing down the mountainside, as a pyroclastic flow of gas and ash began spreading across the slope of Mount Etna. There were no reports of any injuries or deaths. The explosive display was heard from as far away as Catania, a city around 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the volcano. One tour company told ITV News' partner CNN that they had a group of 40 tourists on the volcano when the eruption began. Mount Etna, one of the world's most active volcanoes, released large plumes of ash and smoke In a video filmed close to the eruption, tour guide Giuseppe Panfallo said: 'We were nearly grazed, look at this cloud here. We were two steps away and thank goodness we have a responsible guide with us. 'It arrived all at once, an immense smoke, immense, immense roar.' Experts have said one flank of the volcano's south-east crater has collapsed. The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre issued a red aviation colour code, warning planes a significant volume of ash in the atmosphere is likely. Volcanic activity was detected on Sunday night, before an eruption on Monday. / Credit: Andrea Morosini Nearby airports in Catania and Palermo remain open too as, currently, the wind is not blowing the ash in that direction. The Sicilian Civil Protection Agency instructed all flight travel to avoid the area and some flights from Catania have been directed to Palermo, according to Flight Radar Data. None of the ash is expected to fall on Catania, the city at the foot of the volcano, though authorities are prepared to alert people to take cover if the wind changes, the city's mayor Enrico Tarantino told CNN. Roads close to the volcano have been closed by the authorities to stop people trying to get close to the eruption. Etna is known for its frequent activity and last erupted in February 2025. However, Monday's volcanic eruption marked the biggest since 2014, according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology Observatory. Mount Etna is found on Sicily's east coast, and is one of Europe's most active volcanoes, at over 3,300 metres tall. The volcano has been active for at least two and a half million years. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
ITV News
29-05-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Israel approves West Bank settlement expansion as Gaza strikes kill 13
A much-criticised new aid distribution group backed by the US and Israel has begun working in Gaza. ITV News' Senior International Correspondent John Irvine reports. Israel has approved the establishment of 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, including the legalisation of previously unauthorised outposts. The announcement came as Israeli airstrikes on Gaza killed at least 13 Palestinians overnight, according to local health officials. The strikes hit areas already devastated by nearly three months of Israeli-imposed border closures, which have deepened Gaza's humanitarian crisis. Israel's government continues to face global criticism over its settlement expansion in the West Bank, territory it has occupied since the 1967 war. The international community largely considers the settlements illegal under international law. Calls are growing within Isaeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to re-establish settlements in Gaza, which Israel evacuated in 2005, and to encourage the "voluntary emigration" of Palestinians from the enclave, raising concerns of forced displacement. The latest escalation follows Hamas's 7 October 2023 assault on southern Israel, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages taken. Israel's ongoing military response has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. In a separate incident in the West Bank, an Israeli newborn has died after his mother, Tzeela Gez, was shot and killed by a Palestinian gunman while en route to hospital. The baby was delivered by emergency caesarean before dying from its injuries. Prime Minister Netanyahu called the attack a "murder of a newborn baby along with his mother" and vowed continued military action. The developments have fuelled further instability across the region, as violence persists in both Gaza and the West Bank amid faltering diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis From Westminster to Washington DC - our political experts are across all the latest key talking points. Listen to the latest episode below...
ITV News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Labubu dolls pulled from UK stores after surging demand sparks 'safety concerns'
Restricting stock can be a marketing strategy, as ITV News' Mahatir Pasha reports Sales of Labubu dolls have been paused in UK stores after skyrocketing demand for the plush toys has led to safety concerns, its makers have said. Fans have taken to social media to share anecdotes of long queues and customers fighting to get their hands on the popular dolls - and reports of resellers inflating prices. The dolls cost around £50, but some being resold on eBay are advertised for hundreds. Some come in "blind boxes", where you can only find out the Labubu's design when it has been purchased and unwrapped. In a statement, makers Pop Mart said: "Due to increasing demand for our beloved Labubus, we've seen a significant rise in customer turnout on restock days. "To ensure the safety and comfort of everyone, we will temporarily pause all in-store sales of The Monsters plush toys until further notice. "We're working hard behind the scenes to improve the shopping experience both in-store and online." One woman attempting to buy a Labubu from a store in one of London's Westfield shopping centres said she witnessed an "actual fight", as customers queued up for the latest drop. "There's people in balaclavas, running to the front and surrounding the workers to grab all the tickets," she said. Another woman reported being targeted by resellers in a Westfield store. She said: "Someone just tried to sell me their Labubu in the shop for double the price." As well as toys, the dolls have become a fashion accessory - with Rihanna , Dua Lipa and BLACKPINK's Lisa among those pictured using them as bag charms. Love Island's Olivia Attwood has also shared her love for Labubu. Maker Pop Mart's decision to limit stock of the plushies, releasing them in controlled "drops" both in-store and online is likely behind the chaotic scenes, according Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown. She told ITV News: "Companies often use the strategy of scarcity to make their products even more appealing and make fans want to really get their hands on them fast. That can lead to big queues building up online and in store." Pop Mart's decision to pull the products from UK shelves could fuel a rise in counterfeits, according to Daniel O'Sullivan, a senior associate at Reddie & Grose. "With manufactured scarcity or limited edition products, whenever demand outstrips the number of products there, there will always be people who try to step in and fill the gap," he said. Copycat products may not comply with safety rules, bringing possible risks to consumers who may be buying the items as toys for children, he added. In 2024, Labubus generated 3 billion yuan (£309 million) of Pop Mart's 13.04 billion yuan (£1.3 billion) in revenue. The dolls are inspired by Nordic folklore and were created in 2015 by Hong Kong-born, Netherlands-raised illustrator Kasing Lung.
ITV News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
UK can sign Chagos Islands deal after last-minute legal challenge fails
The deal has been criticised by some political figures, with the Conservatives, Reform's Nigel Farage and at one point US President Donald Trump all voicing opposition, ITV News' Correspondent John Ray reports The government can conclude its negotiations on the Chagos Islands deal, after an eleventh-hour legal challenge from campaigners as dismissed by a High Court judge. The deal, which would see Britain give up sovereignty of the island territory to Mauritius and lease back a crucial military base there, was due to be signed on Thursday morning but was temporarily blocked by an injunction hours before. Discharging the injunction at the High Court, Mr Justice Chamberlain said: "The public interest and the interests of the United Kingdom would be substantially prejudiced by the grant or continuance of interim relief, and these matters provide a strong public interest reason against the continuance of interim relief." The legal challenge had been brought against the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office by two British women born on the Chagos Islands. Bertrice Pompe, one of two women, said it was "a very, very sad day" but "we are not giving up". Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is now expected to complete sign off of the deal on Thursday, which will see the British-controlled Chagos Islands handed over to Mauritius. Welcoming the High Court ruling, a government spokesperson said the agreement is "vital to protect the British people and our national security." The government had argued that it had to give up sovereignty over the islands, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, due to international legal rulings in favour of Mauritius. The deal has been criticised by some political figures, with the Conservatives, Reform's Nigel Farage and at one point US President Donald Trump all voicing opposition. The latter signalled a change in tone and some support for the deal when Starmer visited the White House in February earlier this year. Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands, is home to a joint UK-US military base, used to project Western influence in the Indian Ocean. Critics of proposals to hand over the islands to Mauritius fear the move will benefit China, which has a growing reach in the region. It had been reported that the terms of the deal were likely to include a lengthy extension to the lease of this military base. The Conservatives began negotiations with Mauritius when they were in power, but have been critical of Labour's handling of the deal. Speaking in the House of Commons just this week, Defence Secretary John Healey insisted the base on Diego Garcia was 'essential to our security', and the UK's security relationship with the US. 'We've had to act, as the previous government started to do, to deal with that jeopardy, we're completing those arrangements and we'll report to the House when we can,' he added.
