A former Amazon delivery driver has been jailed for life after murdering a 14-year-old schoolboy with a samurai sword during a 20-minute rampage in east London.
Marcus Monzo, 37, attacked Daniel Anjorin as the teenager walked to school in Hainault on 30 April 2024. The brutal assault left Daniel with what a judge described as an “unsurvivable wound.” He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Monzo went on to injure five others, including two police officers, slashing indiscriminately at passers-by with a 60cm blade. Jurors at the Old Bailey convicted him of murder, three counts of attempted murder, two of wounding with intent, aggravated burglary, and possession of a bladed article. He was ordered to serve a minimum of 38 years in prison.
The court heard that Monzo had consumed cannabis for months leading up to the attack, despite knowing it made him paranoid and triggered panic attacks. Hours before the rampage, he had killed and skinned his pet cat. During the attack, he broke into a home and asked a couple if they “believed in God” before fleeing. He was finally subdued after being chased across gardens and rooftops.
In harrowing testimony, Daniel’s father, Dr Ebenezer Anjorin, described finding his son’s bloodied body in the street just minutes after saying goodbye that morning. Other victims, including police officers and local residents, spoke of lasting trauma and recovery.
Monzo claimed to have no memory of the attack, blaming a “switched personality” and hallucinations akin to The Hunger Games.
However, the court rejected his diminished responsibility defence, ruling that drug-induced psychosis did not excuse murder. Sentencing him, Mr Justice Bennathan acknowledged Monzo’s previous good character but stressed that his voluntary drug use had devastating consequences.
The Metropolitan Police praised the courage of officers who helped bring the attacker down.
