Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
A teenager who stabbed Croydon schoolgirl Elianne Andam to death in a violent and unprovoked attack has been convicted of her murder.
Hassan Sentamu, 18, was arrested by a Met officer within 90 minutes of the incident as he stepped off a bus after calmly making his way back home. He has remained in custody ever since.
Following his detention, detectives worked day and night to build a case against Sentamu, painstakingly trawling through hours of CCTV – eventually seizing 45 hours’ worth as part of the evidence. They used this to map his movements both in the lead up to Elianne’s murder and afterwards when he fled the scene, discarding the knife he had used to kill her along the way.
Detective Chief Inspector Becky Woodsford, who led the investigation, said: “Elianne’s family and friends have waited a long time for this day. Nothing will ease the immeasurable pain they continue to live with, but I know they will be immensely relieved by this outcome. 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. Their journey to get to this point has understandably been a very difficult one to navigate and I would like to pay testament to their dignity, determination and composure.
“In the moments before her death, Elianne was laughing and smiling, completely oblivious to Sentamu’s rage and the events that were about to unfold. She was simply standing up for her friend – doing what she thought was right. It’s difficult to understand what would motivate someone to carry out such an unspeakable act of violence, particularly in broad daylight and witnessed by horrified onlookers. Sentamu’s cold and calculated actions towards a defenceless girl for seemingly no other reason than feeling humiliated by her are particularly disturbing and I am hugely relieved the jury were able to see through his weak attempts to evade true justice by attempting to excuse what he did.
“My team worked tirelessly with our colleagues from the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure we presented the strongest possible case to put before a jury. This involved analysing hours of CCTV footage to piece together Sentamu’s movements before, during and after the incident – enabling us to establish where he had dumped the murder weapon which he was quickly forensically linked to. Given the circumstances of the incident, witness accounts proved vital, and a huge number of statements were obtained. Faced with this overwhelming amount of incriminating evidence against him, Sentamu had no choice but to plead guilty to killing Elianne.”
Elianne’s parents, Dorcas and Michael Andam, said: “On September 27, 2023 our world was shattered, and our hearts were broken by the senseless and violent loss of our beloved daughter, Elianne Andam. At just 15 years old she had her whole life ahead of her, filled with hopes and dreams for the future – all cruelly taken away from her and from us. Her death has left a void in our lives that can never be filled.
“This trial has been our fight for justice, forcing us to confront the devastating details of Elianne’s final moments, details that will remain with us forever. While today’s verdict acknowledges the full extent of his actions, it cannot bring Elianne back to us. The verdict today is the first step toward justice for Elianne, but also a message that violence and knife crime, especially toward young women, will not go unanswered.
“Today, we choose not to dwell on the pain of the trial but instead to honour Elianne’s memory. She was a bright, kind, and loving soul who embraced life, her faith, and her belief in standing up for what was right. We think about her every moment of every day, cherishing her love and the joy she brought to everyone around her.
“We are deeply grateful to our family, friends, Church, local community, legal team, and the countless well-wishers who have supported us with their prayers, love, and encouragement. Your kindness has been a source of strength during this unimaginable journey.
“As we begin the long process of healing, we reflect on this verdict not as an end but as a step toward change. We will continue to fight against the violence that took Elianne from us, sharing her story and working toward a world where no family has to endure such heartbreak.
“Thank you for standing with us in love and solidarity. We ask for privacy as we grieve and strive to find peace. Elianne’s life mattered, and her legacy will live on in our hearts forever.”
Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, responsible for policing in Croydon, said: “Elianne’s murder was met with a collective sense of shock and outrage, and I know this verdict will impact many. In the days and weeks that followed this dreadful incident, I was humbled by the response from the wider Croydon community to support Elianne’s loved ones and the police investigation. It was a real example of a community uniting in the face of awful tragedy, and we stand together now as we did then.
“Elianne was popular with a bright future ahead of her. It’s clear from the messages left at the scene and the hundreds who attended a candlelit vigil held in her honour that she was loved by many, and I know her loss remains felt by us all. So it’s particularly special that the mural unveiled in Croydon last year now stands as a permanent reminder of Elianne’s life and memory.
“This was an incident that affected even experienced officers, but I am proud of how my colleagues responded that day – from those first on scene who gave Elianne emergency first aid, to the swift action taken to urgently circulate Hassan’s details, and finally the eagle-eyed officer who spotted him getting off the bus and moved in to arrest him.”
In the hours before Elianne’s murder on 27 September 2023, her friend had arranged to meet up with Sentamu. The pair had recently come out of a relationship and agreed to meet to swap items they had exchanged during their time together, including a teddy bear. But while the friend returned Sentamu’s things, he reneged on the agreement, turning up to the meeting empty-handed.
Elianne followed her friend as she engaged with Sentamu in an effort to try and get her belongings back. As the group made their way along Wellesley Road, Elianne ran up behind Sentamu and grabbed the bag of items that had been returned to him.
Sentamu immediately gave chase, removing a knife from his waistband. In seconds, he had caught up to Elianne and stabbed her multiple times, including in her neck – a wound which proved fatal. After she collapsed to the ground, passers-by gave Elianne immediate medical attention while they awaited the arrival of emergency services who rushed to the scene, arriving within minutes.
Meanwhile Sentamu immediately ran off, making his way along George Street towards East Croydon Station and on to Cedar Road where he was seen to dump the knife in the front garden of a random property. He then took his usual route home, catching a Route 130 bus before changing to a 64. As he got off the bus at Goldcrest Way he was spotted by a local officer and immediately arrested. After witnesses had been able to quickly identify Sentamu to officers attending the murder scene, an immediate manhunt was launched. The arresting officer acted quickly when he noticed that Sentamu matched the suspect’s description.
Body worn video of the arrest showed Hassan attempting to give a false name of “John” and denying any involvement in the incident. What was particularly noticeable in the footage was his calm manner considering what he had just done. During the course of their interaction the officer was informed that Elianne had sadly passed away which he relayed to Sentamu. His demeanour did not change.
Sentamu was taken into custody where he gave a largely no comment interview, except when providing a false location for the knife and replying “no” when asked if he wished to say anything to Elianne’s family.
During a search of Sentamu’s address a matching set of knives was found in a cupboard under the kitchen sink. One of the knives was missing. Detectives were later able to confirm – both via DNA and a visual match – that this missing knife was the one used to kill Elianne.
Sentamu has never provided an explanation as to why he went out that day in possession of that knife and wearing black gloves and a mask. However, the court heard he had been anxious to know whether an incident the previous day in which he had water thrown at him by a group of girls, which included Elianne, had made him look like a “fool” – telling a friend in a text message “Bro, I can’t let this slide”.
At a hearing on 14 March 2024 Sentamu pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, citing his autism as a mitigating factor for the attack on Elianne. He continued to present this argument throughout his trial for murder.
Sentamu (06.09.06), of Rowdown Crescent, New Addington was found guilty of murder and possession of a knife following a trial at the Old Bailey.
He will be sentenced on Thursday, 13 March.