Teenager who stabbed schoolgirl Elianne Andam to death in 'frenzied' attack in Croydon jailed for at least 23 years

A teenager who stabbed a 15-year-old girl to death in a row over a teddy bear cried in the dock as he was jailed for at least 23 years.

Hassan Sentamu, 18, had a history of attacking girls and carrying knives before he killed Elianne Andam near the Whitgift Centre in central Croydon in September 2023.

Elianne had stood up for his ex-girlfriend who was her friend.

Following Sentamu's sentencing at the Old Bailey today, the girl's father Michael Andam told the court how the "thought of her final moments torments me".

He added that he wondered if she was "hoping I would save her" before telling the court: "I couldn't protect her.

"That guilt will weigh on my heart for the rest of my life."

Elianne was repeatedly stabbed in what police described as a "frenzied" attack that was caught on CCTV.

Sentamu, who was 17 at the time, was arrested less than 90 minutes later after getting off a bus.

The boy, of Rowdown Crescent, New Addington, admitted manslaughter but denied murder on the basis of "loss of control" because he has autism.

He was found guilty of murder and possession of a knife in January following a trial at the Old Bailey.

Sentamu had recently broken up with a friend of Elianne's, whom he had agreed to meet up with to return items, including a teddy bear, that they exchanged while they were going out together, the court heard.

But he instead came armed with a knife, wearing two pairs of gloves and a facemask.

When the ex-girlfriend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, asked for her belongings she says he refused to hand them over and replied: "I don't want to hurt you."

The girl says she then started asking him for her teddy bear before Elianne ran up behind him and grabbed a bag of items that had been returned to him.

She added that Elianne then started "running and laughing as a joke" before Sentamu chased her and stabbed her multiple times.

The day before the killing, he had seen the girls at the Whitgift Centre where they "teased" him and his ex-girlfriend threw water on him.

Seething at the perceived disrespect, he told a friend he could not "let this slide".

Read more:
Sentamu says he would 'do it again', court hears
Elianne Andam posted video on Snapchat before fatal stabbing

In a televised sentencing, 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."

His actions were due to his "short temper and aggressive tendencies" which combined with his "deliberate decision to carry a knife," the judge said.

Sentamu sat with head in his hands in the dock and wiped away tears as he was sentenced to life in prison and told he must serve at least 23 years.

Elianne's family criticised the sentence outside court, saying it had left them feeling "abandoned and unheard".

Mark Rossell, a pastor, said on behalf of the family: "We cannot accept such lenient sentences are appropriate for violent calculated crimes like this."

'The music has stopped'

Earlier the family described their "living nightmare" in a series of statements read to the court.

Her mother Dorcas Andam said: "Elianne was my world, she was the kindest most loving daughter I could have asked for she was vibrant, creative and purposeful.

"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 added: "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."

Father speaks of torment

Meanwhile, Elianne's father told the court: "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."

Elianne's 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."

Met Police Detective Chief Inspector Becky Woodsford, who led the investigation, said after sentencing: "Today marks the end of a very long journey for Elianne's family and friends, and while this is the best outcome they could have hoped for, nothing will ease the immeasurable pain they continue to live with on a daily basis.

"Since Elianne was taken from them in the most incomprehensible way, they have been driven by a motivation to see her killer brought to justice. Getting to this point has been challenging for them, and I would like to pay testament to their continued dignity, determination and composure."

(c) Sky News 2025: Teenager who stabbed schoolgirl Elianne Andam to death in 'frenzied' attack