A summary of a tragic event in northeast London where a man, under the influence of drugs, killed a young boy and injured others, resulting in a life sentence for the attacker.
Life Sentence for Man Who Fatally Attacked Boy with Samurai Sword in London
Life Sentence for Man Who Fatally Attacked Boy with Samurai Sword in London
Marcos Arduini Monzo, who killed 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin during a violent rampage, is sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 40 years before parole eligibility.
In a harrowing case from northeast London, Marcos Arduini Monzo was sentenced on Friday to life imprisonment for the brutal killing of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin with a samurai sword, which took place during a shocking 20-minute rampage in residential Hainault. The incident, which occurred on April 30, 2024, left a community reeling. Daniel was attacked mere yards from his home as he headed to school, discovered by his father still clutching his backpack in the street.
During his spree, which began shortly after 7 a.m., Monzo attacked multiple individuals, including two police officers, shouting incoherently and brandishing the lethal weapon. The violence erupted after he initially struck a man with his van, subsequently confronting and stabbing him with the sword.
Details from the court revealed that Monzo's assault extended beyond Daniel. After fatally wounding the boy, he aggressively confronted an ambulance, striking it with his sword, and challenged officers who arrived on the scene. Despite police carrying non-lethal weapons, they were forced to pursue him until he turned on them, injuring an officer with a fractured skull.
The rampage further escalated when Monzo broke into a home, attacking a couple while their young daughter was present. The father sustained severe cuts while trying to protect his wife, and the attack subsided when the child began to cry, prompting Monzo to flee.
Monzo was finally subdued by officers utilizing Tasers after a brief struggle, during which one officer managed to use a baton against him. Prosecutors disclosed that Monzo had been suffering from drug-induced psychosis as a result of cannabis use, and prior to the rampage, had inflicted harm on his pet cat. Although he expressed extremist views online, there was no evidence to suggest a political motive for his actions.
Judge Joel Bennathan highlighted the profound impact of Monzo’s violence on the community and the tragic loss of Daniel, whose life was cut short in such a horrific manner. Monzo, aged 37 at the time of the offense, will spend a minimum of 40 years in prison before being eligible for parole.
