Marcus Arduini Monzo was convicted at the Old Bailey of murdering 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin and attacking others with traditional Japanese swords during a violent spree in east London. His crime, fuelled by drug-induced psychosis and conspiracy-driven delusions, highlights the tragic impact of untreated mental health issues exacerbated by substance abuse.
Three friends at a martial arts gym in east London watched in disbelief as grainy footage showed a man wielding a samurai sword during a horrifying 20-minute rampage in Laing Close, Hainault, on the morning of 30 April last year. Screams of “he’s got a massive knife” echoed among residents as the attacker, later identified as Marcus Arduini Monzo, drove his van into a pedestrian, then launched a brutal assault that left one 14-year-old boy dead and several others, including two police officers, seriously injured.
The victim, Daniel Anjorin, a schoolboy described by his family as a “beloved son and a precious brother,” tragically died in hospital after being stabbed. The attacker also broke into a nearby home, slashing a father in front of his estranged wife and their young daughter, and inflicted severe injuries on responding police officers. Members of the local gym, who once knew Monzo as a sociable and disciplined martial artist, were shocked to see him transformed into a gaunt figure consumed by violent delusion.
Monzo, now 37, faced trial at the Old Bailey where he was found guilty of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and other serious offences including aggravated burglary and possession of bladed weapons. Prior to his conviction, he admitted carrying both a katana and a tanto, traditional Japanese swords used during the attack. The prosecution argued that Monzo’s actions were a result of a cannabis-induced psychosis rather than an underlying mental illness, a position upheld by the jury who rejected his pleas of diminished responsibility. He is due to be sentenced imminently, with the possibility of a life sentence looming.
Born in rural Brazil, Monzo’s early years in Paranaguá, near the small town of Astorga, were starkly different from the violent episode in London. Former school friends and neighbours described him as an easygoing boy, never prone to aggression, and someone who shared a close bond with peers. His family experienced hardship when large agricultural corporations displaced their farming livelihood. Despite early struggles, he earned a business administration degree and ran an online clothing business before moving to London in 2013. Those who knew him remember a happy-go-lucky young man, physically fit and competitive in martial arts competitions.
However, Monzo’s life began to spiral following a competition injury in 2016 and his increasing use of drugs, including cannabis, LSD-like hallucinogens, and the hallucinogenic brew ayahuasca. His interest in spirituality deepened, influenced by figures like Sadhguru and retreats in India and Brazil, where he became immersed in esoteric practices and extreme lifestyle beliefs, including breatharianism—the idea of living without food. His behaviour grew erratic; he rejected his past achievements and became socially isolated.
By 2021, tensions with family over personal hygiene and behaviour hinted at a growing detachment from reality. Online, Monzo shared conspiracy theories linked to Covid-19, DNA alteration, and fringe political views, including support for David Icke’s theories and bizarre claims such as the world being flat or controlled by “evil wizard-type aliens.” Witnesses at his trial described his passionate and frightening insistence on these beliefs, which reflected a deepening paranoia. His friends from the martial arts community remarked that in 2023, when he returned to training briefly, he seemed withdrawn and “not the same person,” even resorting to using an outdated “brick” phone rather than a smartphone.
The brutal incident itself began with Monzo crashing his van into Donato Iwule, a security guard, whom he then stabbed. He subsequently attacked Daniel Anjorin with deadly force before continuing to assault others, including stabbing a man in his home and seriously wounding two Metropolitan Police officers who attempted to apprehend him. The officers suffered life-changing injuries, and police praised their heroism in subduing Monzo during the violent spree.
The jury heard that Monzo claimed to have no memory of the attacks, attributing his actions to a psychotic episode triggered by drug use. However, the prosecution emphasized that self-induced intoxication does not absolve an individual of criminal responsibility. The conviction highlights the tragic consequences of untreated mental health issues exacerbated by substance abuse and conspiracy-driven delusions.
Neighbours who had limited contact with Monzo described him as a lonely figure, rarely seen with friends or romantic partners, underscoring the social isolation that may have contributed to his unraveling. Friends who last spoke with him several years prior lamented that despite his early promise, he seemed unable to find himself amid his travels and inner struggles.
The case leaves lingering questions about the intersection of mental health, drug use, and violent crime, and mourns a young life senselessly lost in a moment of unthinkable violence.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/how-hainault-swordsman-marcus-monzo-slipped-into-drugs-and-delusion-j60j0cvvl – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://apnews.com/article/ad6dc4b0428442708a438562f90a582a – Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, was convicted of murder and multiple other charges following a violent rampage in northeast London in April 2024 that resulted in the death of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin and injuries to five others. During the 20-minute attack in Hainault, Monzo wielded samurai swords, initiated the assault by hitting a pedestrian with his van, and then fatally attacked Anjorin, nearly beheading him. He proceeded to injure others, including a police constable who sustained severe and life-changing injuries, and broke into a home to attack a father. Monzo, who holds Spanish and Brazilian citizenship, claimed the attack stemmed from a psychotic episode triggered by drug use, including marijuana and ayahuasca. He espoused extreme beliefs, conspiracy theories, and had a history of sharing violent and far-right content online. Although he admitted carrying the swords, he denied the other charges. The jury found him fully responsible, rejecting his insanity defense. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday. The prosecution emphasized that his psychosis was drug-induced, not due to an underlying mental illness. (apnews.com)
- https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-man-found-guilty-teenagers-murder-london-sword-rampage-2025-06-25/ – Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, was found guilty of the murder of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin during a brutal sword rampage in Hainault, east London, in April 2024. In a violent 20-minute spree, Monzo attacked several individuals including civilians and police officers. He initially killed and skinned his cat, then drove his van at a pedestrian, attacked with a sword, murdered the schoolboy, and attempted to kill a police officer. He also broke into a home, assaulted a sleeping couple, and injured a second police officer before being arrested. Two officers sustained life-changing injuries. Monzo claimed he had no memory of the attacks due to a cannabis-induced psychosis, but the prosecution argued that self-induced intoxication does not absolve criminal responsibility. The jury at the Old Bailey convicted Monzo of Daniel’s murder as well as three counts of attempted murder, rejecting the defense of diminished responsibility. London police chief Mark Rowley commended the heroic actions of the officers involved in subduing Monzo. (reuters.com)
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8qzllwlqpo – A man has pleaded not guilty to murdering a 14-year-old boy who was attacked with a sword in east London. Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, is accused of running up behind Daniel Anjorin as he walked to school and slashing him in the chest and neck in Hainault on 30 April last year. Four other people – including two police officers – were seriously injured in separate attacks, all within 20 minutes. During a plea hearing at the Old Bailey, Mr Monzo admitted two counts of possessing an offensive weapon – a katana sword and a tanto katana sword – and a trial date was set for June on the remaining charges. (bbc.com)
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceqdev4xzp0o – A man has appeared in court charged with murdering 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, who was attacked with a sword in Hainault in April. Marcus Monzo, 36, is said to have slashed Daniel’s neck and chest after running up behind him as he walked to school. Mr Monzo from east London, who was remanded in custody, was not asked to enter any pleas at the Old Bailey hearing earlier. Four other people – including two police officers – were seriously injured in separate attacks, all within 20 minutes. (bbc.com)
- https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/02/hainault-attack-marcus-monzo-man-36-court-charged-daniel-anjorin – Marcus Monzo, 36, is charged with the murder of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, who was attacked with a sword in Hainault on 30 April last year. Four other people, including two police officers, were seriously injured in separate attacks, all within 20 minutes. Monzo, a dual Spanish-Brazilian national, is also charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary, and possession of a bladed article. The court was told that Monzo first crashed a van into a fence in Laing Close, Hainault, just before 7am on Tuesday, striking a man. He then got out of the van, and said that he would kill the man before slashing him around the neck area. For this, Monzo is charged with attempted murder. The court heard that Monzo then broke into a home close by in which a man and woman were asleep with their four-year-old daughter. (theguardian.com)
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-68932780 – A man has been charged with murdering 14-year-old schoolboy Daniel Anjorin in a sword attack in north-east London. Marcus Arduini Monzo, 36, is due before Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Thursday over the attack in Hainault. Police were called to reports of a car crashing into a house and people being stabbed at about 07:00 BST on Tuesday. Five people, including two police officers, were injured. Daniel – said by teachers to be positive and gentle – was taken to hospital where he died. Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor for Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: “The CPS has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Marcus Arduini Monzo with the murder of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, who was fatally stabbed in Hainault on Tuesday 30 April.” She said Mr Monzo had also been charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary, and possession of a bladed article. (bbc.com)
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Notes: The narrative presents a detailed account of Marcus Monzo’s background and the events leading up to the attack, with specific dates and personal insights. The earliest known publication date of similar content is June 25, 2025, when Monzo was found guilty of murder. The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged for caution. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score, but the recycled content suggests a need for careful review.
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