Handout screengrab from body cam footage of Marcus Monzo being arrested (Image: PA)
A police officer told a of the horror moment he confronted an alleged samurai sword-wielding killer who minutes earlier had “virtually decapitated” a 14-year-old schoolboy in a brutal attack. But Inspector Moloy Campbell told jurors despite his fright he was “disappointed” to be injured as he tried to stop Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, during a 20-minute outbreak of violence.
The amateur musician killed, skinned and deboned his pet cat Wizard before he launched a rampage in Hainault, north-east London, on April 30 last year, the Old Bailey has heard. He murdered Daniel and attacked a pedestrian, two police officers and a couple in their own home, it is alleged. One witness described Monzo screaming “in delight” after mortally wounding the schoolboy who had been wearing his PE kit with his earphones on and did not hear the attacker approaching.
The police pursuit and arrest of Marcus Arduini Monzo that was shown to the jury (Image: PA)
Schoolboy Daniel Anjorin who died following a sword attack. (Image: Metropolitan Police / SWNS)
Afterwards, he likened events to the Holywood movie The Hunger Games and claimed to have an alternative personality of a “professional assassin”.
Today Insp Campbell told jurors how he was injured as he tried to detain Monzo.
Before arriving at the scene, he heard on the radio that one of his colleagues had been stabbed and when he arrived at the scene a member of the public waved him down and pointed towards a car park and garage area.
The officer said: “Our purpose was to arrest and protect the other officers. I decided to confront the defendant.”
He told how he sprayed him first but the defendant “blocked” the move and “came for” him.
Insp Campbell said: “I dropped my spray and drew my baton. I struck him or attempted to strike him. I believe I connected with him at least twice.
“Mr Monzo was slashing at me with a large sword. He made contact with my hand and certainly with my bodyworn camera.”
The police pursuit and arrest of Marcus Arduini Monzo that was shown to the jury (Image: PA)
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Asked how he felt, the officer told jurors: “I was disappointed to put it bluntly because it meant I could not carry on what I was trying to do.”
Trial judge Mr Justice Bennathan observed: “Presumably you were terrified because someone is slashing at you with a sword.”
The policeman replied: “It was frightening. I remember my priority to try to carry on.”
He said he saw blood when he looked down at his hand and his baton was also covered in blood.
Insp Campbell said he found himself “backed into a corner” and withdrew, and asked a colleague to put a tourniquet on his thumb.
He was treated at the scene and taken to hospital as the defendant was detained and arrested a short time later, the court was told.
Previously, the court has heard how Monzo launched a series of attacks by driving his grey Ford Transit van into Donato Iwule, who was “catapulted” into a nearby garden before the vehicle smashed into a concrete pillar and fence.
Jurors were told that during the rampage Mr Monzo fatally struck Daniel on the head with a sword, and attacked a pedestrian, two police officers and a couple in their own home. (Image: PA)
Monzo was allegedly, one witness said, “running around like a maniac”, with a sword, the court heard (Image: PA)
He went on to hit Mr Iwule in the neck with his sword before running away, it is alleged.
He then “virtually decapitated” Daniel, who was wearing headphones on his way to school, jurors have heard.
In a statement read to the court, Maria Olmos described Monzo’s reaction after the attack saying: “As he fell to his knees, the man raised both his arms to the sky. At the time of doing so he let out an extremely loud scream. It wasn’t a scream of pain, it was a scream of delight – my interpretation was he was celebrating.
“His eyes and mouth were wide open when he screamed.”
Jurors were shown further CCTV and police body-worn camera footage of Monzo running through the residential area armed with a Samurai sword.
Pc Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield pursued the armed defendant through a series of alleyways through residential properties, the court heard.
Monzo struck her three times with the sword that had a 60cm blade using “extreme force”, the prosecutor said.
Marcus Arduini Monzo filmed himself with a samurai sword (Image: PA)
It is alleged the defendant entered a property and attacked a couple who were sleeping in an upstairs bedroom with their young daughter nearby.
Forensic pathologist Dr Ashley Fegan-Earl told jurors that Daniel’s injuries were “absolutely unsurvivable”.
He said that Daniel’s cause of death was sharp force trauma to the head and that Monzo had used “an extreme level of force”.
Monzo denies Daniel’s murder and the attempted murders of Mr Iwule, Sindy Arias, Henry De Los Rios Polania and Ms Mechem-Whitfield, as well as wounding Mr Campbell with intent.
He also denies aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article relating to a kitchen knife.
Monzo previously admitted two counts of having an offensive weapon, namely two swords.
The trial continues