On 30 April last year, 14‑year‑old Daniel Anjorin set off for a normal school day. Armed with his bag and favourite music, the Arsenal fan, described by Bancroft’s School in Woodford Green as a “true scholar”, never imagined tragedy lay ahead.
Moments after stepping outside, Daniel was ambushed. Marcus Arduini Monzo unleashed a terrifying 20‑minute violence spree.
The horrifying climax came when he struck Daniel from behind with a samurai sword, nearly decapitating him. Paramedics rushing to aid the boy were stopped when Monzo swung his sword at the ambulance doors.
Just minutes earlier, Monzo had rammed his van into pedestrian Donato Iwule, then slashed his neck. During interviews, Monzo bizarrely compared his actions to scenes from The Hunger Games, claiming to embody “many personalities spread out”, including that of a “professional assassin”.
Monzo, 37, painted a bleak personal history. He recounted childhood trauma and bullying in Brazil. After relocating to London in 2013, he began using cannabis and magic mushrooms. He briefly quit in 2015, describing the habits as “unproductive”, only to relapse later.
An MMA injury in 2016 sparked a turn to yoga and deeper spiritual exploration under the influence of YouTube guru Sadhguru. Monzo later attended a year‑long retreat in India, embracing ayahuasca ceremonies and breatharian festivals in Italy and Denmark. His transformation included drinking urine for “purification”, using it on his hair and face.
His family became alienated over his extreme lifestyle. Residing in Newham, his cannabis use continued. Days before the attacks, he said he heard voices claiming his cat, Wizard, was controlled by “negative forces”. He took Wizard to a park to abandon it.
Yet the cat returned. Monzo claimed in court: “After I strangled him … the cat had taken energy from me and to replenish … I had to eat the cat.”
Panicked, he attempted to cook the animal but “didn’t have time to eat the cat”. He stowed it in his van, then armed himself with swords, a ball‑bearing gun and a backpack of clothes. “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 originally drove to his parents’ house. Instead, he struck pedestrian Donato Iwuale with his van, dragged him into a garden and slashed him while shouting, “I’m going to kill you.” CCTV captured Mr Iwuale’s screams.
After Mr Iwuale fled, Monzo approached a bystander before locking eyes with Daniel and carrying out the fatal attack.
When police arrived, PC Yasmin Mechem‑Whitfield pursued him through alleyways. Monzo swung the 60 cm blade at her three times.
He then broke into a home, slashing an upstairs couple near their young daughter while shouting, “Do you believe in God?”. He also wounded Inspector Moloy Campbell before being stunned by a Taser and arrested.
Monzo admitted owning two swords, but claimed he had no recollection of the violence until after being Tasered. He pleaded guilty only to possession; all other charges were denied.
However, the jury convicted him of murder, three counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article. One attempted murder charge was reduced to wounding with intent.
Daniel’s family remains devastated. “It is difficult for us at this time to process what has happened to him and that he will never come home,” they shared in a tribute.
“Daniel had left the house for school, and then he was gone. Our children have lost their loving and precious brother, and we have lost the most loved and amazing son.” No sentence can ever restore their “beloved son”.
