Cachella Smith
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Image source, Julia Quenzler/BBC

Marcus Monzo has been jailed for at least 38 years after a series of attacks that included the murder of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin and the attempted murder of three others last April.

The attacks lasted about 20 minutes, but the court heard today that the consequences of Monzo's actions will be felt by the victims for a very long time.

Those who were injured spoke of continued physical pain and mental trauma. Daniel's father told the court about what a gifted, kind and generous child Daniel was. No family should have to go through this, he said.

Throughout the proceedings, the victims and those supporting them were composed - focused largely on the judge while he was passing down the sentence.

Monzo himself showed no visible emotion. Sitting facing the judge's bench from the dock with security officers on either side of him, he kept his eyes mostly ahead as he was told the sentences for each of the ten offences he had committed.

In a statement outside the court, Dr Anjorin said his family carried Daniel's light with them through this dark time.

"No verdict or sentence can bring back our son Daniel," he said. "But we are grateful that justice has been served."

We're ending our live coverage of the Hainault murderer sentencing, but our main news story takes you through all of the day's events.

Daniel Anjorin's father continues, and says Daniel was "taken away from us in a way that no family should ever have to endure".

"His life had so much potential ahead. He was gifted academically, kind and had a generous spirit which touched everyone who knew him," Dr Anjorin says.

"We carry that light with us even in this dark time," he adds.

Dr Anjorin then thanks the police and prosecution team, and "all those who worked tirelessly to seek the truth".

"We honour Daniel's memory not in the shadow of this tragedy but through the love and happiness that he brought to us and all those who knew him," his father says outside the court, ending the family's short statement.

We are now hearing a statement read by Daniel's father, Dr Ebenezer Anjorin, on behalf of his whole family.

Dr Anjorin says this has been "a painful and deeply traumatic chapter in our lives".

"No verdict or sentence can bring back our son Daniel, who we loved so dearly."

"But we are grateful that justice has been served," he adds.

The cameras are set up outside the entrance of the Old Bailey where we are soon expecting to hear from some of the victims of Marcus Monzo's crimes.

Stay with us and we will bring you what is said. You can also follow along by pressing watch live above.

Before handing out Marcus Monzo's sentence, Judge Mr Justice Bennathan touched on Daniel Anjorin's father's impact statement.

"It is a hard read, so heartbreaking are its contents," he told the court.

"Daniel was a clever boy. He was gifted musically and played a variety of sports well. He was a happy child, and his loss has obviously devastated his parents, his brother and sister and his grandparents," the judge added.

As we reported on at the time, the judge also paid tribute to the "calm, dignified manner" Daniel's father had throughout the trial, "with a composure that most of us would find impossible".

A short while ago, Hainault sword attacker Marcus Monzo was told that he will be jailed for at least 38 years and 309 days for the murder of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin and other offences.

You can watch the moment the judge laid out the sentencing below.

Image source, PA Media

Commissioner of the Met Police says he hopes today's verdict "brings some small semblance of justice and closure" to the family of Daniel Anjorin, who "face a future without him".

In a post on X, Mark Rowley commends the "truly extraordinary" actions of the officers involved in apprehending Monzo.

"My heartfelt thanks and admiration remain with them, and those who investigated and since secured justice for the grieving family."

Lucy Manning
Special correspondent, reporting from the Old Bailey

After the emotional victim impact statements that left a number of the victims in court in tears, the sentence for Marcus Monzo was listened to with calm and composure by all those affected who were in court.

The Anjorin family showed the dignity they have displayed throughout the trial and gave no visible reaction as the sentence was passed.

As we've just heard, Monzo has been given a life sentence, with a minimum term of 38 years.

As the Sentencing Council explains,, external an offender serving a life sentence will remain on licence for the rest of their life and expected to abide by a set of rules.

This could include bans from certain areas, or substance rehabilitation. If the conditions are broken or they are thought to be a risk to the public, offenders can be sent back to jail.

It's worth pointing out that a life sentence is different to a whole life order, which means the offender must spend the rest of their life in prison.

While delivering the Marcus Monzo's sentence, Mr Justice Bennathan provided some more details about why he was receiving the exact term of 38 years and 309 days.

Monzo's life imprisonment term has been reduced by a fifth to recognise "mental ill health" and previous good character, the judge said.

He would've served a minimum term of 40 years - instead of 50 - but because he has already served 421 days, the judge has deducted this from his sentence.

He will now serve 38 years and 309 days in total, before he can be considered for parole.

Cachella Smith
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Marcus Monzo walked out almost straight after the sentence was read out to the courtroom.

He glanced initially at the press bench, but then focused on walking out of the court.

Mr Justice Bennathan sentences Marcus Monzo to life in prison.

The judge says Monzo must serve at least 38 years in jail for the murder of Daniel Anjorin and the other offences he committed last April.

Cachella Smith
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Image source, Julia Quenzler/BBC

The judge is now going through each of the counts Monzo faces.

As he has been doing through today's proceedings, Monzo's eyes remain trained ahead at the judge's bench without visible emotion.

More so now, members of the public, including some of those sitting with the victims, glance towards him but he does not show emotion.

Lucy Manning
Special correspondent, reporting from the Old Bailey

The judge paid tribute to Daniel’s family and praised Daniel’s father for the dignified manner he has sat through the distressing details of the trial and for his composure.

Mr Justice Bennathan said the words in his victim impact statement were “heart-breaking.”

He also paid tribute to the police response that day saying all the police officers behaved with “exemplary courage” and put their lives on the line to protect the public they serve.

The judge called them a credit to the uniform they wear and said the Met Police can be proud of them.

Cachella Smith
Reporting from the Old Bailey

As the judge turns to Marcus Monzo's cannabis use and the effects of the drug on him, the defendant continues to sit still - looking straight ahead.

Occasionally, members of the public turn from the judge to look at the dock.

Earlier today, we heard victim impact statements.

The judge is recalling what the court heard this morning, recounting the emotional and physical trauma Monzo's victims continue to suffer.

When he gets to Daniel's father's victim impact statement, he says it is "a hard read".

Daniel was a "happy, gifted" child whose loss has "devastated" his family.

"No sentence I can pass can even begin to temper Daniel's family's grief, Mr Justice Bennathan says.

Cachella Smith
Reporting from the Old Bailey

As the judge goes through the initial details of the attacks last April, the court is silent except for the journalists typing their notes.

Monzo continues to look ahead, glancing occasionally at the others in the courtroom today.

The judge goes through the impact of the attacks on each of the victims, citing the continued physical and mental consequences of the attacks.

He adds that Daniel's father's statement was a "hard read".

As he speaks of his statement, Dr Ebenezer Anjorin looks at him.

When the judge references the "calm manner" he has had throughout the trial - Insp Moloy, sitting behind him, nods.

Image source, Crown Copyright

Judge Mr Justice Bennathan is now summarising the case.

When he gets to the fatal attack on Daniel Anjorin, he says that Marcus Monzo, whatever capacity he was in, must have known he was a child, as he inflicted an "unsurvivable wound" to him.

When speaking of the survivors of the attack, members of the public and police officers, the judge remarks how miraculous it is that their injuries were not fatal, too.

Cachella Smith
Reporting from the Old Bailey

As Monzo entered the dock, he looked around the courtroom but did not show emotion. He is sitting with three security officers in the dock with him.

He looks straight ahead as the judge begins his sentencing remarks.

Victims, including members of Daniel’s family, sit on the other side of the court from the press.

Eight members of the jury are here and more people sit in the press gallery at the balcony in the court.

Every one’s eyes are focused on the judge.

The judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, has entered the courtroom and is beginning his sentencing remarks.

We'll bring you the details as he hands down the sentence to Marcus Monzo.

As a reminder, there are cameras in court and you can also follow along by pressing watch live at the top of this page.