Elianne Andam's dad in moving tribute to tragic teen as killer found guilty of murder
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A grieving father vowed knife crime will "not go unanswered" as a teenager was found guilty of murdering his 15-year-old daughter in a row over a teddy bear. Michael Andam described Elianne Andam as a "bright, kind and loving soul" who dreamed of becoming a barrister. However, she was "cruelly taken away" when Hassan Sentamu, now 18, stabbed her in the neck outside a shopping centre.
Elianne had stood up for her friend, Sentamu's ex, when a row erupted at a bus stop in Croydon, south London before school on September 27, 2023. When she had tried to get back her mate's teddy bear, Sentamu, then 17, lashed out in "white hot" rage and repeatedly plunged the kitchen knife as she lay prone on the ground.
Speaking outside the Old Bailey, where Sentamu was found guilty of murder by a majority of 10 to two on Thursday, Dr Andam said: "The verdict today is the first step towards justice for Elianne, but also a message that violence and knife crime, especially towards young women, will not go unanswered.
"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.".
It was a joint statement, from Dr Andam and Elianne's mother Dorcas, who both made huge sacrifices to send their daughter to the £16,579-a-year Old Palace of John Whitgift independent girls' school in Croydon. Dr Andam, who is a care home manager, continued: "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.".
