Cannabis, blades and gurus: inside killer's disturbing life

For Daniel Anjorin, 30 April last year started as any normal day would do. The 14-year-old woke up, packed his schoolbag and waved goodbye to his family. He then picked his favourite music to listen to on the way to school.

- HOLLY EVANS

As he stepped out of his front door, the devoted Arsenal fan – described as a “true scholar” by his school, Bancroft’s in Woodford Green, east London – had no idea of the horror that was about to unfold.

Moments later, Marcus Arudini Monzo unleashed a violent 20-minute rampage that left Daniel dead and five others injured. Believing that an event “like an Armageddon” was happening, the attacker – who had spent the early hours of his morning consuming drugs and, disturbingly, attempting to eat his cat – ambushed Daniel from behind with a samurai sword, virtually decapitating him. When the ambulance arrived, he swung his sword towards the vehicle, delaying paramedics from reaching the boy’s lifeless body.

Minutes before the attack, Monzo, 37, had used his Ford transit van to mow down pedestrian Donato Ivule before slashing him in the neck.

During his police interviews, Monzo likened the events to the Hollywood film The Hunger Games, and claimed to have “many personalities spread out”, including one of a professional assassin.

Despite his claiming that he had been suffering from a psychotic disorder, the jury has now found him guilty of murder and three counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent, aggravated burglary, and possessing a bladed article. He was cleared of one count of attempted murder but found guilty of the lesser offence of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.