Man guilty of murdering schoolboy in Hainault

A man has been found guilty of murdering 14-year-old schoolboy Daniel Anjorin with a samurai sword in Hainault last year.

Marcus Monzo, 37, has also been found guilty of three counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.

He gave no reaction in court as the verdicts were read out and the judge said he would face a life term when he returns to court for sentencing on Friday.

Daniel’s father, who was in court to hear the verdict, did not react as Monzo was found guilty of murdering his son.

Monzo was cleared of one count of attempted murder but found guilty of the lesser offence of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The attacks took just 20 minutes on the morning of 30 April 2024.

Witnesses described the former Amazon delivery driver screaming “in delight” and smiling after fatally wounding Daniel, who had been walking to school in his PE kit.

As well as killing Daniel, Monzo, who had a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, also attacked a pedestrian, two police officers and a couple in their own home before he was arrested by police.

Monzo had gone into a cannabis-induced psychosis before the attack, and had killed and skinned his pet cat before heading to Hainault, north-east London.

Afterwards, Monzo likened events to the Hollywood film The Hunger Games and claimed to have an alternative persona of a “professional assassin”.

Giving evidence at his trial, he said he had no memory of what happened and claimed his mental state had diminished his responsibility for the crimes.

However, the prosecution argued that psychosis brought on by self-induced intoxication was no defence for murder.

Monzo, a dual Spanish-Brazilian national, who was living in Newham, east London, had liked posts on X that praised Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

Over a year, Monzo’s X account also liked references to various antisemitic conspiracy theories and misogynistic Incel material.

At his Old Bailey trial, Monzo had told jurors he believed the world was flat and that the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York was “probably” a conspiracy theory.

In a reference to another conspiracy, Monzo posted: “I live in London. Here everybody will agree that the city is GREY. And the reason is BECAUSE they spray the sky ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.”

Speaking outside the court, Ch Supt Stuart Bell from the Met Police said: “First in our thoughts is Daniel Anjorin – a talented, gentle, bright young man.

“A much-loved son and brother, brutally murdered simply walking to school at what should have been the start of a normal day at the start of a promising life.

“There are no words, really, to express how sorry we are for [the Anjorin family’s] loss or how much admiration we have for your courage and dignity.

“It is hard to comprehend the unimaginable pain that you must have suffered in the last year.

“I can only hope today’s verdict brings some semblance of justice and relief, and you are now able to grieve in some peace.

“Our thoughts remain with all those who have been impacted by this terrible incident.”

Kirsty O’Connor, from the Crown Prosecution Service, CPS, said their “hearts go out” to Daniel Anjorin’s family and friends who have suffered “his unimaginable loss in horrific circumstances”.

“Our thoughts remain with all of the victims who continue to recover from their injuries and trauma,” she said.

She also paid tribute to the police officers and emergency workers who put their own personal safety at risk in the line of duty.

“The courage shown undoubtedly prevented further loss of life.

“We all owe them a debt of gratitude.”