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Elianne Andam’s family says ‘justice has been done’ after teen guilty of her murder

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The family of teenager Elianne Andam have said ‘justice had been done at last’ after a teenager who stabbed her to death being found guilty of murder. 

Hassan Sentamu, 18, attacked 15-year-old Elianne Andam with a kitchen knife outside a bus stop outside the Whitgift Centre in Croydon town centre on September 27 2023.

She had gone there with a friend so the other girl and Sentamu could return each other’s belongings after breaking up – but he refused to hand back her friend’s items.

The Old Bailey heard he lashed out at Elianne, who had accompanied her friend to the meet up, in a ‘frenzied murderous rage’, knifing her as she begged him to stop.

Following a three-week Old Bailey trial a jury found Sentamu, from New Addington, near Croydon, guilty of murder by a majority of 10 to two and unanimously guilty of possession of a blade.

There were shouts of ‘yes’ and ‘murderer’ from the public gallery as the jury delivered the verdicts after deliberating for 11 hours and 42 minutes.

Elianne was attacked while accompanying her friend to meet up with Sentamu (Picture: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire)
(Picture: Met Police)
A photo of knifes shown to the jury (Picture: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire)

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Elianne’s uncle Kwame Boakye, 55, told Metro: ‘At last justice has been done but it’s been a long road and the family have paid a heavy price with illness and stress.

‘The murder conviction is the correct decision. Autism can not be used as an excuse for this level of violence. Nothing will bring Elianne back and we are all still grieving.’

Paying tribute to Elianne he told Metro: ‘She was a lovely girl. A god fearing girl who went to school, did all her homework and was kind to everyone, the perfect child, no problems.

‘She had done nothing wrong and she had been taken from us. Our hearts are broken.’

Hassan Sentamu stabbed Elianne in an act of ‘frenzied murderous violence’ (Picture: MyLondon/BPM Media)
CCTV image of Hassan Sentamu running from the scene holding a knife (Picture: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire)

Elianne’s friend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the Old Bailey Sentamu had turned up to the exchange wearing gloves and a mask.

She said: ‘Elianne ran behind him, grabbed the bag and started running and laughing as a joke. It was the type of thing that Elianne would have done.

‘He then lifted up his hoodie quick, pulled out something and I saw a big knife.

‘I turned around for one second then I saw her on the floor like trying to say “stop”, basically with her hand out. He was there like over her, bending.’

Prosecutor Alex Chalk KC said: ‘He exacted vengeance on a young girl clearly running away from him and posing no threat.’

Sentamu fled the scene and discarded the knife with Elianne’s blood on it in nearby Cedar Road before taking the number 64 bus towards his home in New Addington.

Pc Alex Smith described the ‘scene of chaos’ when he arrived outside the Whitgift shopping centre on Wellesley Road.

He told jurors: ‘There were people screaming, shouting, people running away. I knew a serious incident had occurred.’

Sentamu pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted manslaughter.

He did not give evidence during the trial, but jurors heard psychiatric evaluations to help them reach their verdict.

His defence claimed his autism spectrum disorder caused him to lose control.

But the prosecution argued there was no evidence to suggest his autism caused him to lash out in a ‘frenzied murderous violence’.

He had a history of attacking girls and carrying knives before he stabbed Elianne.

Amid the public shock and outcry at the killing, rap star Stormzy joined members of the community at a candlit vigil for Elianne who aspired to become a human rights lawyer.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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