Elianne Andam: Confrontation over teddy bear that led to schoolgirl's tragic death
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A teenage girl was stabbed to death when she stood up for her friend over a fluffy teddy bear. Elianne Andam was chased down the street and cornered by her pal's ex-boyfriend who then knifed her repeatedly before running away, leaving the 15-year-old girl dying in the street. The teenage girl had been "aggrieved" on her friend's behalf and decided to act after Hassan Sentamu, then 17, failed to return the teddy after the pair broke up.
The court heard that on the day the exes were due to hand over the remnants of their relationship, Elianne's friend brought a bag of things for Sentamu, but he turned up empty handed. In response, Elianne grabbed the plastic bag and ran. During the trial Prosecutor Alex Chalk KC told jurors at the Old Bailey: "It was a gesture of solidarity... that cost Elianne her life. The defendant chased after her, cornered her, and used the kitchen knife to stab her repeatedly.
"He drove the knife 12cm deep into her neck severing the carotid artery and causing injuries that were unsurvivable. Despite the rapid arrival of the emergency services and intensive efforts over the course of nearly an hour, Elianne died at the scene.".
Today, Sentamu, able to be named when he turned 18, was found guilty of her murder and is now facing life behind bars. The court had heard Elianne's friend - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was "anxious to recover her teddy bear" after breaking up with Sentamu 10 days earlier. They planned to exchange belongings in Croydon, south London, but Sentamu turned up empty handed. He launched the "dreadful attack" after reaching "the end of his short fuse", the court was told.
