Urine and Ayahuasca: Old Bailey Hears Shocking Testimony from Alleged Attacker

By Urine the News Staff | June 15, 2025

If you thought your week was weird, wait until you hear what’s going down at the Old Bailey. In a trial that sounds like it was ripped from a dystopian thriller, 37-year-old Marcus Arduini Monzo stands accused of a violent sword attack spree in East London that left one teenager dead and several others wounded. But it’s not just the gruesome violence turning heads—it’s his bizarre backstory involving psychedelics, YouTube gurus, and yes, urine.

During his testimony Friday, Monzo told jurors that his journey into “spirituality” included taking magic mushrooms, following Indian mystic Sadhguru, and attending breatharian festivals in Europe— events that promote the idea of surviving without food. He even admitted to showering with and drinking his own urine, claiming it had “cleaning” benefits.

For context: this is the same man accused of skinning and deboning his pet cat, then embarking on a 20-minute drug-fueled rampage through Hainault, East London on April 30, 2024. The court heard that Monzo, allegedly high on cannabis at the time, first ran down pedestrian Donato Iwule with a van, slashed his neck with a sword, and then virtually decapitated 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin—who was simply walking to school.

If you're wondering what sort of drug testing might have flagged some of this behavior, our company drug test database outlines which employers screen for cannabis and psychedelics. Spoiler: not many test for ayahuasca.

Monzo, originally from Brazil, testified that he moved to London in 2013, where he began smoking cannabis and occasionally experimenting with psilocybin. After an MMA injury, he took up yoga and dove into Eastern mysticism. In 2017, he traveled to India for a year-long spiritual retreat and later consumed ayahuasca both there and in remote parts of Brazil. He described the effects as “stronger during ceremonies,” and his lifestyle became increasingly isolated and extreme.

At some point, the court heard, Monzo began arguing with family over cleanliness—ironically, considering his choice of personal hygiene included nasal rinses and hair washes with his own urine. According to Monzo, this was inspired by alternative health beliefs he encountered during his travels.

Whether or not those rituals had any actual “cleansing” effect is a question for another day (or our herbal detox guide). But what is clear is that Monzo’s mental and emotional state had drastically deteriorated.

Prosecutors allege that on the day of the attack, Monzo used a 60cm samurai sword to assault multiple victims. After evading police briefly, he entered a couple’s home and attacked them while their young daughter was nearby. He then struck a police inspector before being apprehended.

Monzo has denied all charges of murder, attempted murder, and aggravated burglary, but admitted to owning two swords. He reportedly described his actions as being like something out of The Hunger Games, even referencing a supposed “professional assassin” persona.

For those seeking clarity on how long substances like cannabis or psychedelics stay in the body, see our comprehensive drug detection time guide. While ayahuasca isn’t typically tested for in standard panels, cannabis can be detected days or even weeks later depending on frequency of use.

As shocking and tragic as this case is, it highlights how extreme belief systems, untreated mental health issues, and substance use can sometimes form a combustible mix. The trial continues at London’s Old Bailey, with more testimony expected in the days to come.

For the full story, read the original article from the Evening Standard here.