Man 'murdered' schoolboy, 14, in 'indiscriminate brutal string of attacks' with 'Samurai sword'

Prosecutor Tom Little KC told the court that the attacks were indiscriminate, and that none of the alleged victims were known to him.

"It did not matter who they were or indeed how old they were," Little said.

The prosecution alleges that Monzo intended to kill as many people as possible during a 20-minute rampage.

Little told jurors they may conclude "there can be little doubt that the defendant was intending to kill as many people as he could that day and that he is therefore just as guilty of the four charges of attempted murder as he is the charge of murder".

The court heard that Monzo was allegedly under the influence of cannabis at the time.

Prosecutors claimed this led to a psychotic disorder - but argued it does not meet the requirements for a partial defence of diminished responsibility.

The alleged attacks began at 6.51am when Monzo allegedly drove his grey Ford Transit van at speed into pedestrian Donato Iwule on Laing Close, the court heard.

The impact knocked Iwule into a garden whilst the vehicle crashed into a concrete pillar and fence.

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Monzo then allegedly exited the van and struck Mr Iwule in the neck with the sword. Footage shown to jurors appeared to show Iwule crying out before managing to flee.

Little told the court: "If he had not managed to escape it seems inevitable that he too would have been killed."

The defendant then drove a short distance before encountering Daniel, who was walking to school wearing headphones and sports clothes.

The prosecution alleges Daniel suffered a "devastating and unsurvivable chopping injury to the left hand side of his face and neck" from the 60cm blade.

Little described the wound as "essentially a near-decapitation".

Police arrived during or immediately after the attack. PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield pursued the armed defendant through residential alleyways and was struck three times with the sword, sustaining injuries which could have "easily" killed her, the court heard.

Monzo allegedly entered a house and attacked a sleeping couple in their bedroom. Their four-year-old daughter was present, and Little said: "They were spared only because in fact the four-year-old child woke up and started to cry."

The defendant reportedly shouted "do you believe in god?" at the couple before leaving.

Police then cornered Monzo in a garage area where he allegedly struck Inspector Moloy Campbell with the sword.

He was eventually disarmed and arrested after climbing onto a garage.

Monzo denies all charges including four counts of attempted murder, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article.