Break-Up Leads to Tragic Murder of Croydon Teenager Elianne Andam
Elianne Andam’s murder shocked Croydon, stemming from a dispute over a bag.
Elianne Andam, Croydon, London, Murder, Hassan Sentamu
Croydon: Elianne Andam was a kind-hearted girl who always looked out for others. Her dad shared a touching story at her memorial about how she saved snails from the rain. It’s a bittersweet reminder of her gentle spirit.
On September 27, 2023, Elianne stood up for a friend after a breakup. They met Hassan Sentamu to swap some belongings. But things took a dark turn when he didn’t return everything.
Elianne ran after him to get the bag back, but he pulled out a knife and stabbed her in front of shocked bystanders. It was a scene no one should ever witness, especially not her friends.
After the attack, a bus driver tried to comfort her as she lost consciousness. Sadly, she didn’t make it. Hassan fled but was caught later, with blood on his thumb.
This wasn’t just a random act of violence. Hassan had been feeling disrespected after his ex and her friends teased him. He told a friend he couldn’t let it go, even after being warned not to do anything stupid.
On the day of the attack, he dressed in layers and wore gloves, clearly planning something terrible. His ex-girlfriend described a heated phone argument that pushed him over the edge.
During the trial, it came out that Hassan had a tough childhood in Uganda, witnessing violence and facing his own issues. He admitted to manslaughter but denied murder, claiming he lost control due to autism, but the jury didn’t buy it.
Elianne’s death hit the Croydon community hard. People left flowers and toys at the spot where she died, and hundreds came together for vigils. Even rapper Stormzy showed up to pay his respects.
A mural was painted in her honor, celebrating her dream of becoming a human rights lawyer. Detective Chief Inspector Becky Woodsford praised Elianne for always standing up for what was right.