Hainault victim attacked from behind and slashed his neck, court said

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A suspected sword attacker has appeared at the Old Bailey charged with the murder of a teenager who was attacked from behind and slashed in the neck as he walked to school.

Marcus Arduini Monzo, 36, is also accused of attacking four other people, including two police officers, during a 20-minute rampage in Hainault, east London, last Tuesday.

The court heard the attack happened just before 7am after Monzo allegedly crashed a van into a fence in Laing Close, hitting a passer-by.

The court was told he then got out of the van, said he was going to kill the man and slit his neck.

Shortly afterwards, he is accused of attacking 14-year-old Daniel Anjourin from behind and inflicting fatal injuries by cutting his neck.

An autopsy revealed the cause of death was “trauma from sharp force to the head.”

When an ambulance arrived, he allegedly approached paramedics with the gun and prevented them from helping before being chased by police officers.

He then attacked a police officer, PC Yasmin Margaret Mechem-Whitfield, seriously injuring her while she lay on the ground.

After running through gardens, he entered a property and allegedly attacked a sleeping couple, where their young daughter was also present.

The child’s father, Henry De Los Rios Polania, suffered injuries to his neck and arm and was described as a “hero” who protected his family from the attack.

After leaving the property, officers arrested the suspect using Tasers, with one inspector suffering an arterial hemorrhage after being stabbed with the weapon.

The court heard none of the victims knew their attacker.

In the days that followed, floral gifts, handwritten notes and teddy bears were left at the scene in memory of Daniel, whom his heartbroken family described as “wonderful”.

Staff and pupils at Bancroft’s Independent School, where Daniel was a pupil, said they were “deeply shocked and saddened” by his death.

In a Metropolitan Police statement on Saturday, his family said: “We as a family are devastated by the loss of our beloved son Daniel. “We are currently having a hard time processing what happened to him and the fact that he will never come home. Daniel had left the house to go to school and then he was gone.

“Our children have lost their loving and precious brother and we have lost the most beloved and greatest son.

“We would like to extend our best wishes to the other victims of this unthinkable incident.”

Arsenal paid tribute to Daniel, who was a fan of the London club, ahead of their Premier League game against Bournemouth on Saturday.

During the game, there was also a moment of applause throughout the Emirates Stadium in the 14th minute when a banner reading “RIP Daniel” was displayed in the crowd.

Monzo, a Spanish-Brazilian dual national who lives in Newham, east London, wore a gray tracksuit and confirmed his name and date of birth as he stood in the dock.

A three-week trial is tentatively scheduled for February 3, 2025.