Latest news with #MarcusMonzo
Sky News
2 days ago
- General
- Sky News
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 Bailey. Marcus 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. 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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
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.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Man killed Daniel Anjorin, 14, during sword rampage in east London, jury told
A man armed with a large sword murdered a boy who was on his way to school and attempted to kill four others in a 'brutal' early morning series of attacks, a jury has heard. Marcus Monzo, 37, denies all charges including the murder of Daniel Anjorin, 14, in Hainault, east London, in April 2024. The Old Bailey was told that at the time of the 20-minute rampage, Monzo had a psychotic disorder triggered by cannabis use. During the string of attacks he moved like a 'predator' intent on killing as many people as possible, the court heard. He attacked a couple with a young child in their home, and police officers who tried to detain him were slashed at and injured. Opening the case, Tom Little KC said: 'This case involves a brutal string of attacks with murderous intent primarily committed with the use of a large sword. It occurred over a period of only about 20 minutes, early in the morning of 30 April last year … The prosecution say that there was a clear intention to kill a number of people that morning on the defendant's part. It did not matter who they were, or indeed how old they were.' The jury was shown the sword used in the incidents, with a curved blade 60cm in length. Monzo, who knew none of the victims, came across Daniel moments after he left his home wearing headphones at about 7am, the court heard. Little said: 'He was just 14 years of age at the time. He had left home and was simply walking to school, minding his own business, no doubt looking forward to the day ahead when he was killed by the defendant. 'His life was snuffed out in an instant. In fact most accurately he was slain by the defendant with the use of this sword … The force used was extreme. It involved a devastating and unsurvivable chopping injury to the left hand side of Daniel's face and neck.' The violence started just before 7am when Monzo drove into someone with his van, the jury heard. The victim, Donato Iwule, who was on his way to work, was hit with such force he was catapulted into a nearby garden. He was then attacked with the sword. The jury saw and heard video footage from doorbell cameras that captured the victim's scream and were told he said to his attacker: 'I don't know you,' with Monzo replying: 'I don't care, I will kill you.' Monzo clutching the sword in both hands and swung it at Iwule, who survived after fleeing with the defendant chasing him, the jury heard. Little alleged that Monzo then attacked police officers including PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield, who was struck three times and suffered significant injuries. The violence continued, the court heard, with Monzo breaking into a house where a couple and their child were asleep. Little said: 'They were spared only because the four-year-old woke up and started crying.' At one point Monzo came face to face with a woman, standing on her foot, but she escaped, the jury heard. He also called the fire brigade during the rampage, the court was told. Little told the jury: 'There is no issue then that it was that man in the dock that carried out that string of attacks and who killed Daniel Anjorin and seriously injured a number of others. What you have to decide is very largely as straightforward as why he did so and what his state of mind was at the material time. '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.' He added: 'The defence case is that the defendant was most likely suffering from a pre-existing condition … which created a vulnerability to experiencing psychotic episodes with schizophrenia-like symptoms, prompted by his use of cannabis.' Monzo denies murdering Daniel and attempting to murder Iwule, Mechem-Whitfield, and Sindy Arias and Henry De Los Rios Polania, whose home he denies breaking into in an alleged act of aggravated burglary. He also denies wounding with intent Insp Moloy Campbell, and possession of two swords and a kitchen knife. The case continues.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Killer hacked schoolboy, 14, to death 'in an instant' during 20-minute samurai sword rampage when he also tried to kill four others, court hears
A killer hacked a schoolboy to death 'in an instant' during a 20-minute rampage with a samurai sword that left four others seriously injured, a court has heard. Marcus Monzo, 37, of West Beckton, Newham, is accused of murdering 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin while he was on his way to school in Hainault, east London on April 30 last year. Monzo is also accused of the attempted murders of female police officer PC Yasim Mechem-Whitfield, 35-year-old IT engineer Henry De Los Rios Polina, Sindy Arias and Donato Iwule, who was hit by his van. Brazilian amateur musician and 'mystic' Monzo, is further accused of a count of causing grevious bodily harm to Sindy Arias and Henry De Los Rios Polina with a katana style sword, wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article. Prosecutor Tom Little, KC, said: 'This case involved a brutal string of attacks with murderous intent primary committed with the use of a large sword. 'It occurred over a period of only about 20 minutes early in morning of 30 April last year in Hainault. 'One of those who was attacked was killed - the others were injured with various degrees of severity but the prosecution say there was a clear intention to kill a number of people that morning on the defendant's part. 'It did not matter who they were or indeed how old they were. 'Daniel Anjorin, the boy that was murdered did not know the defendant. He was just 14 years of age at the time. 'He left home just before or at 7 o'clock in the morning. He was simply walking to school minding his own business, no doubt looking forward to the day ahead at school when he was killed by the defendant. 'His life was snuffed out in an instant, in fact most accurately he was slain by the defendant with the use of a sword. 'The force used was extreme. It involved a devastating and unsurvivable chopping injury to the left-hand side of his face and neck. Others were also attacked by the defendant with that sword that morning.' Daniel was the youngest of three children from a local, church-going Nigerian family. The keen Arsenal supporter was remembered as a 'true scholar' with a 'gentle character' - with well-wishers raising more than £143,000 on GoFundMe for a celebration of his life. The prosecutor continued: 'Daniel Anjorin was not the first person to be attacked. The first was someone called Donato Iwule. 'He was deliberately driven into by the defendant in his van. In order to do so he drove at speed directly at him - knocking him into a garden before the defendant then got out of his van and attacked him with the same sword striking him to the neck. 'Donato Iwule also did not know the defendant. If he had not managed to escape it seems almost inevitable that he too would have been killed. 'Following that first attack the emergency services were called by members of the public who had witnessed what had taken place on the street. 'Police rushed to the scene and the third victim was PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield. 'She bravely pursued the defendant through a series of alleyways behind the residential properties in the area where the first two attacks had taken place the defendant was still armed with that large sword,' said Mr Little. 'She too could easily have been killed by the ferocious attack upon her. She was struck three times causing significant injuries.' Monzo then burst into a house to attack a couple in their bedroom. Their child was sleeping in a bed next to them. 'They were spared only because the four-year-old woke up and started to cry,' Mr Little said. 'By now there were many police officers present in the area. 'The last of the attacks was on another police officer after the defendant was surrounded in a garage area nearby to the other attacks. 'After escaping from that area the defendant was eventually disarmed and arrested.' Members of Daniel's family were in court today as the case was opened to the jury. Monzo appeared in the dock today wearing a green jumper. In addition to the murder charges, he also denies aggravated burglary by entering a home in Laing Close with a Katana samurai sword with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to the residents. He denies wounding with intent while trying to resist his lawful apprehension and having an article with a blade or point, namely a kitchen knife.
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Boy, 14, had life ‘snuffed out in an instant by drugged-up mystic in 20-minute sword rampage that injured four others'
A SCHOOLBOY's life was "snuffed out in an instant" by a drugged-up mystic in a 20-minute sword rampage, a court heard. Daniel Anjorin, 14, was ambushed as he made his way to school by Marcus Monzo, 37, in Hainault, East London. 3 3 The Brazilian "mystic" allegedly used "extreme" force on Daniel, who suffered a "devastating and unsurvivable chopping injury" to his neck and face. 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. Opening the case today, Prosecutor Tom Little KC, said: "This case involved a brutal string of attacks with murderous intent primary committed with the use of a large sword. "It occurred over a period of only about 20 minutes early in morning of 30 April last year in Hainault. "One of those who was attacked was killed - the others were injured with various degrees of severity but the prosecution say there was a clear intention to kill a number of people that morning on the defendant's part. "It did not matter who they were or indeed how old they were." The Old Bailey was told 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. 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. Mr Little said: "She too could easily have been killed by the ferocious attack upon her. She was struck three times causing significant injuries." Monzo then burst into a house to attack a couple in their bedroom as their child slept next to them, it was said. Jurors were told their lives were only spared because the youngster woke up and started to cry. Mr Little told the court that 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. Mr Little added: "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. 3
