The killer who stabbed schoolgirl Elianne Andam to death in a row over a teddy bear has been jailed for life with minimum term of 23 years.
Hassan Sentamu, 18, flew into a fit of ‘white-hot anger’ and stabbed Elianne in the neck with a kitchen knife outside the Whitgift Centre in Croydon, south London, before fleeing the scene and dropping the knife on his way.
He had admitted manslaughter but was found guilty of murder and having a blade after a jury rejected his claim that autism affected his ability to exercise self-control.
The teenager, who family called ‘kind’ and ‘vibrant’ in impact statements today, was brutally killed after showing ‘solidarity’ for her friend, who was going to collect a cuddly toy after breaking up with Sentamu.
She grabbed back Sentamu’s belongings after her friend handed them over when he didn’t bring the bear to the meeting on 27 September 2023.
In a scene of terror on the south London street he chased down the year 11 pupil and stabbed her four times including in the neck. He had brought a knife to the scene after the girls had splashed him with water and insulted him the day before.
In a victim impact statement, Elianne’s mother Dorcas Andam said she was the ‘kindest, most loving daughter’ who was ‘vibrant, creative, and purposeful’ and loved to sing and braid hair.
She said: ‘Elianne was my world, she was the kindest most loving daughter I could have asked for she was vibrant, creative and purposeful.
Elianne Andam (pictured) was stabbed to death in a fit of ‘white-hot anger’ on September 27 2023
Hassan Sentamu (pictured) was today convicted of murder by a jury following Elianne’s death
‘She loved deeply, loved to sing, to braid hair always practising new style. Our home was full of her music, laughter and energy. There was always warmth and joy when Elianne was there.
‘Now the music has stopped the laughter has gone – all that is left is a deafening silence that echoes through my life.’
Addressing Sentamu, Mrs Andam continued: ‘You brutally murdered her in the most humiliating way in broad daylight.
‘Mercilessly killing her on the floor as she begged for mercy. You walked away showing no remorse as if her life meant nothing.
‘You did not only kill Elianne, you killed me mentally and emotionally. Your actions were senseless and evil.’
Addressing Sentamu, she said he had ruined her life when he killed her daughter in the most ‘deliberate’, ‘senseless’ and ‘evil’ way.
Elianne was full of potential, had dreams of becoming a lawyer and would have gone on to do ‘the greatest things’ if her life had not been taken, Mrs Andam said.
She added: ‘The question that forever haunts me is why. .. What did she ever do to deserve such cruelty?’
Sentamu admitted manslaughter due to diminished responsibility claiming he lost control of himself because of his autism but an Old Bailey jury convicted him of murder in January. He was also convicted of having a bladed article in a public place.
In a victim impact statement, Elianne’s mother Dorcas Andam said she was the ‘kindest, most loving daughter’ who was ‘vibrant, creative, and purposeful’ and loved to sing and braid hair
Elianne (pictured right) grabbed the bag of Sentamu’s belongings out of his hand after he failed to bring a teddy bear as agreed
Hassan Sentamu (pictured) fatally stabbed Elianne Andam in Wellesley Road, near the Whitgift Centre, Croydon
Joined by two dock officers, Sentamu wearing a long black coat, white shirt and black tie cast his eyes to the floor and bowed his head as he listened to the impact of his actions.
The teenage killer wiped away tears as he was sentenced.
In a televised address, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said Elianne, an aspiring lawyer, was a ‘hard-working, happy girl’ with a ‘radiant smile’.
She told the defendant: ‘Elianne was 15 when you murdered her, she will always remain just 15, she will never realise the potential of her life.’
The driver for his actions was his ‘short temper and aggressive tendencies’ which combined with his ‘deliberate decision to carry a knife,’ she said.
As he was sent down, there were angry shouts from the public gallery rejecting his earlier apology.
A young woman, thought to be a friend of Elianne, screamed: ‘F**k you and f**k your apology bro, you deserve the death penalty. You deserve to be spat on, you deserve to be stoned to death.’
Speaking in court, Elianne’s Father Michael Andam said: ‘I close my eyes and see the horror of what she must have endured – the fear, the pain – and it breaks me over and over again.
‘No parents should ever have to bury their child, let alone in such a violent and cruel manner.
‘The thought of her final moments torments me – wondering if she was calling out for me, hoping I would save her – but I wasn’t there. I couldn’t protect her. That guilt will weigh on my heart for the rest of my life.’
Her Cousin Denzil Larbi told the defendant: ‘What you did was the most monstrous and evil act that is imaginable. You will forever remain a villain in our story.’
This is a breaking story, more to follow.
