A video of Metropolitan Police officers being attacked by a man with a sword has been presented to the jury at the Daniel Anjorin murder trial. Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, is accused of murdering 14-year-old Daniel and attempting to kill four others during a series of attacks in Hainault, north-east London last April. The footage from police body-worn cameras displayed the officers' bravery as they faced the defendant. The jury also viewed camera footage from an ambulance showing Mr. Monzo trying to attack paramedics and striking the vehicle's windows with his sword.

On Thursday, the Old Bailey heard from the defendant's brother Eduardo, who mentioned that Mr. Monzo had consumed ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic drink, during a retreat in the Amazon. After his arrest, no traces of the hallucinogen found in ayahuasca were detected in Mr. Monzo's system. His brother described how Mr. Monzo's behavior changed after attending retreats and following a spiritual guru. He mentioned that Mr. Monzo began to meditate for hours, avoid physical contact, and started acting strangely before the attack.

Earlier that day, Met Police Insp Moloy Campbell testified in court about how the defendant attacked him with a sword. He mentioned that he saw blood on his hand after the attack and expressed his disappointment at being injured, which hindered his pursuit of Mr. Monzo. The court also heard that before the attacks, Mr. Monzo killed his pet cat and claimed to have an alternate personality of a 'professional assassin'.

During the series of attacks, Mr. Monzo drove his van into a pedestrian, attacked several individuals with a sword, and struck a police officer multiple times. He denies the charges of murder, attempted murder, and possession of bladed articles, among others. The trial is ongoing.