Daniel Anjorin was tragically killed in what has been described as a near decapitation by a samurai sword-wielding assailant, just moments after the 14-year-old left home for school on the morning of April 30, in Hainault, east London.
The accused, Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, a dual Spanish-Brazilian national, allegedly unleashed a violent 20-minute attack that began with a van crashing into a home and ended with his arrest.
Monzo, 36, who resides in West Beckton, east London, appeared at the Old Bailey today, donning a grey prison tracksuit and flanked by security, facing charges that include murder, attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary, and possession of a bladed article.
In a somber courtroom moment, he hesitated before confirming his name and date of birth, the Daily Mail reports.
The court heard from Prosecutor Tom Little, KC, who outlined the harrowing sequence of attacks, which appeared random and targeted unsuspecting individuals, including a brave female police officer who sustained severe injuries. Daniel, a well-loved schoolboy and keen soccer fan, suffered fatal injuries to his neck and head, leading to his death shortly after being rushed to the hospital.
An autopsy examination found the cause of death was "sharp force trauma to the head". When police officers rushed over to the severely injured teenager, Monzo is alleged to have appeared from a bush and chased them. He allegedly jumped out at PC Yasmin Margaret Mechem-Whitfield, leading to "significant injuries".
Monzo then allegedly entered a number of gardens before breaking into the home of a couple who were asleep with their four-year-old child.
The defendant is alleged to have attacked the father, Henry De Los Rios Polania, in his bedroom, injuring his neck and arm.
Another officer, Inspector Moloy Elec Campbell, tried to apprehend the defendant and was also allegedly stabbed with the samurai sword.
Daniel's parents, deeply rooted in their Christian faith, are devastated by the loss of their youngest son, remembered by his school, Bancroft's in Woodford Green, as a "true scholar" with a "gentle character."
The school community, alongside family and friends, has been left in profound shock, with $180,000 raised on GoFundMe to honor Daniel’s memory. Bancroft’s School paid tribute by flying its flag at half-mast and hosting a gathering where students laid flowers.
As the case continues to unfold with a trial set for February next year, the community remains in solidarity.
.jpg_32JAzk?tr=h-40&config=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)
.jpg_REKIy0?tr=h-40)
.jpg_32JAzk?tr=h-184&config=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)
.jpg_REKIy0?tr=h-184)