HAINAULT KILLER JAILED: SWORD PSYCHO WHO WORSHIPPED TATE

Marcus Arduini Monzo was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 38 years for the brutal samurai sword killing of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin and a series of savage attacks carried out during a 20-minute rampage through Hainault in east London. The 37-year-old, who was convicted at the Old Bailey of Daniel’s murder, three counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent, aggravated burglary and possessing a bladed article, sat motionless in the dock as Mr Justice Bennathan imposed the sentence.

The court had previously heard how, on the morning of 30 April 2024, Monzo, in a state of cannabis-induced psychosis, he had, killed, skinned and deboned his pet cat before launching into the 20-minute spree of violence which began with him using his Ford Transit van to ram pedestrian Donato Iwule in Laing Close, catapulting him into a front garden before crashing the vehicle into a concrete post. Exiting the van armed with a 60cm samurai sword, Monzo slashed Mr Iwule in the neck before moving on through the quiet suburban estate.

Moments later, Monzo encountered Daniel Anjorin, who was walking to school in his PE kit and listening to music on headphones. Without warning, Monzo struck the boy from behind with extreme force, causing unsurvivable neck injuries. Witnesses described the defendant falling to his knees and emitting a loud scream after the killing, which one bystander interpreted as an expression of delight rather than pain or distress.

The attack continued as Monzo moved on foot through alleyways and gardens, pursued by Metropolitan Police officers. PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield gave chase before being struck three times with the sword. The blows, delivered with "extreme force", caused devastating injuries to her arm which required prolonged surgery and left her facing a long and uncertain recovery. Monzo then broke into a nearby residential property, where he confronted a sleeping couple and their young child, asking if they "believe in God" before leaving them unharmed.

He was eventually intercepted in a car park by Inspector Moloy Campbell, who attempted to detain him using his baton. During the confrontation, Monzo slashed the officer across the hand, inflicting a serious wound that resulted in a catastrophic bleed. Officers eventually subdued and arrested Monzo after deploying multiple Taser discharges.

Following his arrest, Monzo claimed he had no memory of the events and spoke of an alternate personality. During his trial, he gave extensive evidence about his background, including a history of drug use, alleged spiritual practices, and erratic behaviour. He admitted to killing and skinning his pet cat "Wizard" shortly before the incident, and described drinking his own urine as part of what he called a “cleansing” process.

The court also heard that Monzo had a long-standing fixation on violent and conspiratorial material online. He had extensively viewed and posted support for Andrew Tate, the controversial social media influencer currently facing his own criminal proceedings. Monzo had also liked and reposted content praising Adolf Hitler, denying the Holocaust, and promoting misogynistic Incel ideologies. In one online post, he speculated about chemtrail conspiracies and claimed London’s grey skies were caused by government spraying programmes. A forensic search of his devices showed repeated engagement with far-right, antisemitic and violent extremist material.

Mr Justice Bennathan, in delivering his sentencing remarks, made clear the unprecedented gravity of Monzo’s actions. He told the court:

“Over 20 minutes – members of the public were attacked, police officers were gravely injured, a couple were terrified in their own home and a clever, talented young boy was killed. You, Marcus, did all of that.”

He went on to describe Daniel as “a clever boy… gifted musically” and active in sports, noting the loss suffered by his family could never be compensated by any sentence. “I am very conscious no sentence I can pass can even begin to temper Daniel’s family’s grief,” he said.

Daniel was a pupil at the prestigious £24,990-a-year Bancroft’s School in Woodford Green, and had been described by staff as a “true scholar” with a “positive nature and gentle character”. He had joined the school aged seven and quickly became, in their words, “a core member of the community”.

The attack also left others with long-term injuries. PC Mechem-Whitfield’s ordeal was described in detail, and the court heard she remains under intensive treatment. Inspector Campbell, who had raced to the scene to support his officers, described the moment he looked down and saw the inside of his hand after the slash: “I had no choice but to withdraw due to a catastrophic bleed but I felt I had failed.” He added that learning of Daniel’s death while recovering in hospital left him “gutted… like the wind had been knocked out of me”.

Survivor Donato Iwule gave a moving victim impact statement, explaining the devastating physical, psychological, and financial impact of the attack. “I am still in the process of healing – it has changed how I live, how I feel, and how I see the world around me,” he said.

Following today’s sentencing, Monzo will now spend at least 38 years in prison before being considered for parole, by which point he will be in his mid-70s. His sentence marks the conclusion of one of the most harrowing cases to be heard at the Old Bailey in recent years, involving not only a random and frenzied murder of a schoolboy, but also a chilling portrait of online radicalisation, violent delusions, and a complete detachment from reality.

Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.