The identity of the teenager accused of stabbing 15-year-old schoolgirl Elianne Andam at a bus stop has been publicly revealed as he turns 18. The case has garnered significant attention, with the suspect’s transition to adulthood marking a pivotal moment in the legal proceedings surrounding the tragic incident.
The teenager accused of fatally stabbing 15-year-old schoolgirl Elianne Andam at a South London bus stop can now be named and pictured as he turns 18. Hassan Sentamu faces charges of murdering Elianne on Wellesley Road, near the Whitgift Centre, around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. At the time of the incident, Sentamu was 17 and thus protected by legal restrictions on naming.
Elianne had been with two female friends when the attack occurred. It is alleged that Sentamu, masked and gloved, drew a large knife from his waistband and repeatedly stabbed Elianne.
As Hassan Sentamu left the scene, bystanders attempted to administer first aid to Elianne Andam, but she could not be saved. Sentamu was apprehended in New Addington at 9:45 a.m. on the same day, as revealed in court.
Elianne was a student at Old Palace of John Whitgift, a private girls’ school located approximately half a mile from the site of the stabbing.
The school was “deeply shocked” by Elianne Andam’s death, remembering her as a “much-loved and valued friend and pupil.” Her aunty, Marian, shared that Elianne had aspirations of becoming a lawyer and was a passionate gymnast.
At his last appearance at the Old Bailey in March of this year, Hassan Sentamu admitted to manslaughter but denied the charge of murder. The prosecution did not accept the plea, and a trial has been scheduled for November.
Sentamu also denied possessing a blade in a public place. Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC described the incident as a “brutal attack” during an earlier hearing.
Following Elianne Andam’s death, her family issued a statement expressing their profound grief: “We as a family are struggling to comprehend this painful tragedy that has happened to our beautiful daughter and beloved sister Elianne. Our hearts are broken.
“Elianne was a beautiful person inside and out who loved Jesus. She was intelligent, thoughtful, kind, and had a bright future ahead. It is our request that you keep our cherished daughter Elianne and our family in your thoughts and prayers.”
The murder trial is scheduled to begin at the Old Bailey on November 25.
