A teenager has been found guilty of murdering schoolgirl Elianne Andam after a dispute over a teddy bear. Hassan Sentamu, who was 17 at the time, attacked the 15-year-old outside a shopping center in Croydon, south London, on September 27, 2023. Although Sentamu, now 18, admitted to manslaughter, claiming he lost control due to his autism, the jury rejected this defense of diminished responsibility.
The jury deliberated for 11 hours and 42 minutes before reaching a 10-2 majority verdict. Alongside the murder conviction, Sentamu was also found guilty of illegally possessing a knife. The incident occurred during a meeting at the Whitgift Centre, where Elianne was supposed to exchange belongings with Sentamu’s ex-girlfriend, who was also her friend.
During the trial, it was revealed that Sentamu had acted out of an “explosive rage of savage violence.” He had left his home with a knife after feeling “disrespected” by a group of girls the day before, who had thrown water at him due to his treatment of their friend. The court heard that he sought revenge; when Elianne took a bag containing his belongings, he chased her down and stabbed her multiple times.
Sentamu was arrested within an hour and a half of the killing
Prosecutor Alex Chalk KC stated, “He was angry on 27 September, having brooded on the insult, and he took the knife to the scene to reassert dominance. He exacted vengeance on a young girl clearly running away from him and posing no threat.” Tragically, Elianne suffered a fatal 12cm deep stab wound to the neck, and a passing bus driver held her hand and stayed with her as she lay dying in the street.
Sentamu had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of 14 and had spent parts of his teenage years in foster care, in a pupil referral unit, and in a special educational needs school. The court’s decision underscores the severity of the crime and the tragic loss of life resulting from this violent act.
BBC News
