Hainault suspect 'broke into home and stabbed dad protecting daughter, 4, as she slept'
Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, 36, has appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with the murder of schoolboy Daniel Anjorin.
The man suspected of stabbing a 14-year-old boy to death allegedly broke into a home and attacked a couple sleeping with their four-year-old daughter.
Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, a dual Spanish-Brazilian national living in Newham, is charged with the murder of schoolboy Daniel Anjorin in Hainault on the morning of Tuesday, April 30. The 36-year-old is alleged to have crashed his van into a property in Laing Close, at about 7am, before entering the home of Henry De Los Rios Polania, 35, an IT engineer, who is recovering in hospital after being stabbed in his home, while defending his wife and sleeping for-year-old daughter.
The court was told that he then got out of the van, said that he would kill the man and slashed him to the neck. Prosecutor David Burns told the court that 15 minutes later it is alleged Monzo broke into a nearby home where a couple were asleep with their four-year-old daughter.
He went into the bedroom and attacked the child’s father, shouting about believing in God and causing injuries to his neck and arm, it is alleged.
Yesterday his sister Jessica De Los Rios, 31, revealed that her brother had been left “traumatised” by the event but described his actions in protecting his family as “heroic”.
She said: “He’s very devastated to believe something like this could happen. To us, he’s our hero. He protected them – my niece and my sister-in-law. They were just literally sleeping, opened their eyes to see a man with a big machete sword. He felt helpless in the moment but to us he is our hero. It could have been extremely worse.”
Ms De Los Rios said her brother had sustained a deep wound to his hand during the terrifying ordeal and faces a lengthy recuperation journey.
She said: “It’s a very long process to get his hand recovered, due to this wound. He’s awake, he’s in hospital, but he lost a lot of blood and it’s going to be a really long, traumatising recovery for him”.
Ms De Los Rios also expressed fears that the attack would have a long-term psychological impact on the whole family.
She added: “We just have faith, but what worries me the most is how traumatised they are. They haven’t been able to sleep. It’s unbelievable. These kind of things you see on the news and you never think it could happen to you.
“Unfortunately I don’t think they will want to go back into the house and live there again. It’s been extremely hard to take in such a horrific situation.”
He is also alleged to have attacked another member of the public before knifing the teen with a 'samurai sword' as he walked to school with his headphones on. Two police officers also suffered stab wounds, with a female officer nearly losing her hand.
The Met Police said that Monzo, a dual Spanish-Brazilian national, of Newham, has also been charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article.
Aiste Dabasinskaite, Daniel Anjorin’s next-door neighbour, said the attacker had initially confronted her on Tuesday morning before attacking the teenager.
She said she and others had tried to shout warnings to Daniel. She told the PA news agency: "The man approached me first and I managed to run away when he drew the sword.
"We were shouting and waving towards Daniel as he came out. He had his headphones in so he wouldn’t hear us. It just happened right before our eyes, it was horrible."
Appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning, wearing a grey sweatshirt and grey tracksuit bottoms, and holding his left arm across his chest, Monzo spoke slowly to confirm his name in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. He has been remanded to custody.
An artist’s impression of Monzo from court this morning is the first image of the alleged killer since CCTV pictures appeared to show him being tasered by a female officer.
Aiste Dabasinskaite, Daniel Anjorin’s next-door neighbour, said the attacker had initially confronted her on Tuesday morning before attacking the teenager.
She said she and others had tried to shout warnings to Daniel.
She told the PA news agency: “The man approached me first and I managed to run away when he drew the sword.
“We were shouting and waving towards Daniel as he came out.
“He had his headphones in so he wouldn’t hear us. It just happened right before our eyes, it was horrible.”
Daniel, whose mother is a science teacher at Holy Family Catholic School in Walthamstow, was walking to Bancroft’s School in Woodford Green when he was allegedly struck down by Monzo.
Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London North, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Marcus Arduini Monzo with the murder of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, who was fatally stabbed in Hainault on Tuesday April 30.
“A further four people – including two police officers – were seriously injured.
“Our thoughts remain firmly with the family of the Daniel and all those who have been impacted by this horrific incident.”
The £22,770 per year independent school was also attended by Grace O’Malley-Kumar, a Nottingham University student who died last year trying to save fellow student Barnaby Webber from a vicious knife attack.
Bancroft’s staff and pupils have said they have been left in “profound shock and sorrow” at this latest tragedy.
The boy’s family told Sky News he was “a wonderful child” who was “well loved” and “hard working”, adding that his death “leaves a gaping wound in the family”.
“No family should have to go through what we are experiencing today,” they told the broadcaster. Any family will understand it’s an absolute tragedy.”
A statement from Bancroft’s said: “We are devastated by the heartbreaking news of the death of Daniel Anjorin, who attended our school. This has left us in profound shock and sorrow.
“Daniel joined Bancroft’s at seven years old and quickly became a core member of our community. He was a true scholar, demonstrating commendable dedication to his academic pursuits. His positive nature and gentle character will leave a lasting impact on us.”
