Hainault murderer convicted of brutal attacks on strangers

A man who rampaged through the streets of Hainault in a drug-induced state, killing a 14-year-old boy and seriously injuring four other victims with a sword, has been found guilty today.

Marcos Arduini-Monzo, 37, faced a trial at the Old Bailey this month. The jury found him guilty of murder, three counts of attempted murder, aggravated burglary, two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and having a bladed article.

Kirsty O’Connor, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The CPS maintained throughout that Arduini-Monzo’s mental state was driven by his own cannabis misuse which meant that he was fully responsible for the devastation he caused last year. The jury, by their unequivocal verdicts, have accepted the prosecution case.

“Our hearts go out to Daniel Anjorin’s family and friends who have suffered his unimaginable loss in horrific circumstances, and our thoughts remain with all of the victims who continue to recover from their injuries and trauma.

“I would also like to pay tribute to the brave police officers and emergency workers who faced Marcos Arduini-Monzo on that terrifying day in April 2024, putting their own personal safety at risk in the line of duty.

“The courage shown by PC Mechem-Whitfield, PC King, Inspector Campbell and others who selflessly sought to apprehend Arduini-Monzo whilst facing extreme personal danger was exceptional and undoubtedly prevented further loss of life.

“We all owe them a debt of gratitude.”

The brutal attacks took place over a 20-minute period leading up to approximately 7am on 30 April 2024. None of the victims were known to him.

The first victim was deliberately driven into by Arduini-Monzo in his van. He drove straight at the victim, who was catapulted into a garden, before Arduini-Monzo got out of his van and attacked him with a sword. It was incredibly lucky that the victim managed to escape and survived his injuries.

Tragically the second victim, 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, sustained catastrophic and unsurvivable injuries. Daniel had left his house for school, wearing his school sports kit, backpack and headphones, and was unaware that Arduini-Monzo was approaching him. Arduini-Monzo viciously attacked Daniel, striking him with the same sword.

As a London Ambulance crew arrived at the scene, Arduini-Monzo hit the ambulance vehicle with his sword, forcing them to retreat away and preventing them from attending to Daniel.

The third victim was one of two police officers who bravely chased Arduini-Monzo through alleyways at the back of the residential properties in the area. He was still armed with the sword and ferociously attacked a female police officer, who sustained very significant injuries.

Arduini-Monzo then entered a nearby house through a backdoor and attacked a couple in their own bedroom. The couple were asleep in bed with their four-year-old child. The male victim protected his partner and sustained arm injuries, but it seems their lives were only spared when Arduini-Monzo heard their child crying and left the property.

The final victim was another police officer. The police surrounded Arduini-Monzo in an area of garages and while trying to detain him, a police officer was struck with the sword.

Arduini-Monzo managed to escape by jumping on garage roofs but was eventually disarmed by police and arrested.

Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: “There was no doubt Arduini-Monzo was in the grips of a psychotic episode, but the challenge for our specialist homicide prosecutors in this case was proving that his mental state was the result of his cannabis misuse – not an underlying mental health condition such as schizophrenia.

“This matters, because by proving Arduini-Monzo's psychosis was the result of his own actions, our prosecutors could bring charges of murder, as opposed to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.”

He will be sentenced on Friday 27 June.