A British-Nigerian family is mourning the brutal killing of their 14-year-old son, Daniel Anjorin, who was murdered in cold blood by 37-year-old Marcus Arduini-Monzo in a samurai sword rampage in northeast London.
Daniel had only stepped out 14 metres from his home in Hainault, London, on April 30, 2024, when Arduini-Monzo attacked him with a 60cm katana-style blade, slashing him fatally. Witnesses said the killer screamed “in delight” and smiled as he butchered the young teenager.
The Old Bailey found Arduini-Monzo guilty of Daniel’s murder, three counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent, and possession of an offensive weapon. He will be sentenced on June 27.
During the horrific 20-minute spree, Arduini-Monzo slashed four other people, including a man who was at home with his partner and child, and a random pedestrian. Prosecutors said it was “miraculous” more people weren’t killed.
Following his arrest, the killer described himself as a “professional assassin,” compared the murders to The Hunger Games, and told police he had experienced a personality switch. Officers later discovered he had killed and skinned his pet cat before launching the attack.
His parents, heartbroken and devastated, said in a statement: “We are struggling to accept the reality that Daniel will never come home. He was a loving and precious brother, the most loved and amazing son.”
Though Arduini-Monzo’s defence argued that the rampage stemmed from psychotic episodes caused by cannabis use, prosecutors held him fully responsible, stating his mental state was self-induced. The jury agreed.
In court, Arduini-Monzo claimed to have drunk ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic brew, but toxicology reports found no traces of the drug. The jury heard that he had a deep obsession with Japanese samurai culture and frequently posted violent content online, including far-right conspiracy theories and admiration for figures like Adolf Hitler and Andrew Tate.
A former boxing coach described him as “a bit different” and noted, “He didn’t really have friends.” Arduini-Monzo, who is a Spanish-Brazilian dual citizen, had lived in Newham, East London, since 2013.
The Crown Prosecution Service praised officers who confronted the armed killer during the rampage. “We all owe them a debt of gratitude,” said prosecutor Kirsty O’Connor.
The tragic death of Daniel Anjorin has shaken both the local and Nigerian communities, sparking renewed concerns about mental health, radical online ideologies, and street violence in the UK. Daniel’s memory, however, lives on in the hearts of a grieving family and a community united in sorrow.