Elianne’s killer gets life as grieving family reveal ‘gaping wound’ and ‘deafening silence’ left by her death

The parents of  Croydon schoolgirl Elianne Andam, who was stabbed to death in a violent and unprovoked attack, today issued a heart-breaking impact statement in court about how ‘the music has stopped’ in their life.

Her killer, Hassan Sentamu, 18, of Rowdown Crescent, New Addington, has today been sentenced to life imprisonment at the Old Bailey – facing a minimum of 23 years before parole can be considered.

This follows his conviction for Elianne’s murder after a trial which concluded on January 16.

Sentamu was arrested within 90 minutes of Elianne’s murder on September 27, 2023, as he stepped off a bus after calmly making his way back home. He has remained in custody ever since.

CCTV footage mapped 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.

Victim impact statements were read out on behalf of Elianne’s parents. In them, her mum, Dorcas Andam, said: “Elianne was my world, my answered prayer after a long time.

“She was the kindest and most loving daughter I could have asked for. She was vibrant, creative and purposeful.

“She loved deeply, she loved to sing, loved dance, to braid hair. Our home was full of her music, her laughter and her energy. There was always warmth, always joy — because Elianne was there.

“She lived life to the fullest and always made life worth living. But now the music has stopped. The laughter is gone. All that remains is a deafening silence — a hollow, painful silence that echoes through every part of my life.

“My daughter was more than just a victim of a horrific crime. She was a beautiful soul — full of dreams, laughter and love. She was a daughter, a sister, a friend — a bright light in all of our lives.

“Her absence is a gaping wound that will never heal. Every morning I wake up to the crushing reality that she is gone. I no longer hear her voice, feel her warm embrace, or see her radiant smile. The silence in our home is deafening.”

The BBC reported the teenager’s father Michael Andam stating: “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.

“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.”

In the hours before Elianne’s murder, 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.

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 previously had water thrown at him by a group of girls, which included Elianne, and worried it 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 March 14, 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.

Detective Chief Inspector Becky Woodsford, who led the investigation, said: “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.

“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.

“We may never know exactly what motivated Sentamu to carry out such an unspeakable act of violence in broad daylight and witnessed by horrified onlookers. But the actions he took in those split seconds robbed Elianne of her future and left a family and community grieving an unimaginable loss.

“It’s clear Sentamu is a dangerous and unpredictable individual and I am relieved he will remain behind bars for a significant period of time.”

Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, responsible for policing in Croydon, said: “Elianne’s murder was met with a collective sense of shock and outrage. 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.”

Pictured top: Elianne Andam (Picture: The Met)