Schoolboy Daniel Anjorin, 14, was 'decapitated in sword attack', court hears

07 May 2024 , 11:29

938     0

Marcus Monzo, 36, is alleged to have killed Daniel Anjorin in the Hainault area of northeast London (Image: INSTAGRAM)

A suspected samuari sword killer "decapitated" a 14-year-old schoolboy during an alleged 15-minute attack, a court heard today.

Daniel Anjorin was killed moments after he left his home in Haianult, in northeast London on April 30. Marcus Monzo, 36, is alleged to have killed Daniel Anjorin in the Hainault area of northeast London. Monzo was charged with murder last Thursday and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in the capital.

Monzo, a dual Spanish-Brazilian national living in Newham, also east London, was remanded in custody following a seven-minute hearing, during which he was told he also faces charges of two counts of attempted murder, two counts of grievous bodily harm, one count of aggravated burglary and one of possession of a bladed article.

The suspect appeared at the Old Bailey this morning

Monzo, of Beckton, East London, paused for a few moments and said "um" when asked to confirm his name before doing so after he was prompted by a dock officer who whispered "yes or no". After another delay, he gave the court his date of birth.

Setting the trial date, Judge Mark Lucraft KC, the Recorder of London, said the attack had attracted a "huge amount of publicity". Prosecutor Tom Little KC told the court that Monzo is due to enter pleas in July while a provisional trial date was set for next February. He said: "This case related to a period of about 20 minutes or so relatively early in the morning of 30 April. None of those who were attacked by the defendant knew the defendant in advance.

Spectacular New Year fireworks light up London sky as huge crowds celebrate across UK for first time in three years

"There are in reality five separate incidents, the first an attempted murder involving the use of the defendant's van to strike the victim, being deliberately driven at. He was sent a significant distance into some gardens. The defendant then got out of van with a sword, the victim of that matter says 'I don't know you' and the defendant says 'I don't care I will kill you' and in the process was attacked with a sword.

"He manages to escape, and shortly after that Daniel was walking to school when attacked by the defendant from behind with the use of a sword to the neck and head, very largely essentially decapitating the 14-year-old boy."

It is alleged that Monzo crashed a van into a fence in Laing Close just before 7am on Tuesday, hitting a member of the public, Donato Iwule. The court was told that he then got out of the van, said that he would kill the man and slashed him in the neck. The court heard that 15 minutes later, it is alleged Monzo broke into a nearby home where a couple were asleep with their four-year-old daughter. He went into the bedroom and attacked the child’s father, Henry De Los Rios Polania, shouting about believing in God and causing injuries to his neck and arm, it is alleged.

Monzo is then alleged to have slashed Daniel from behind, leaving him with fatal stab wounds to his head and neck, the Old Bailey heard on Tuesday. Police officers arrived and tried to help the teenager, when it is alleged that Monzo appeared from a bush and they chased him.

Marcus Monzo, 36, is alleged to have killed Daniel Anjorin, 14, in the Hainault area of northeast London (Metropolitan Police / SWNS)

The court was told that he jumped out at female officer Pc Yasmin Margaret Mechem-Whitfield and attacked her with the sword while she was on the ground. He is also accused of injuring a second officer, Inspector Moloy Elec Campbell.

In the days following the attack, floral tributes, hand-written notes and teddies have been left at the bottom of Laing Close in Hainault, as well as a painting of Daniel. Staff and pupils at Bancroft’s, an independent school, said they have been left in “profound shock and sorrow” at his death. Daniel's family said last week that he was a wonderful child who was "well loved" and "hard working". They said: "No family should have to go through what we are experiencing. Any family will understand it's an absolute tragedy." The trial continues.

Tom Pettifor