A teenager who fatally stabbed 15-year-old Elianne Andam in a dispute over a teddy bear has been sentenced to at least 23 years in prison for her murder. Hassan Sentamu, then 17, attacked Elianne with a kitchen knife outside a shopping centre in Croydon, south London, in September 2023. Sentencing him at the Old Bailey, Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb said: "The pain of her loss to her parents and younger brother is indescribable. She will always remain just 15—never able to realise the potential of her life."

The court heard that Sentamu, who had a history of violent behaviour and carrying knives, killed the well-loved schoolgirl in front of horrified children, shoppers, and commuters. Although he admitted to manslaughter, a jury convicted him of murder, rejecting his claim that autism impaired his ability to control himself. The judge stated that his actions were driven by his "short temper and aggressive tendencies," along with a "deliberate decision to carry a knife." As Sentamu was led from the dock, angry shouts erupted from the public gallery. Earlier, Elianne’s grieving family described their "living nightmare" in emotional statements read to the court.

Her mother, Dorcas Andam, said: "Elianne was my world—kind, loving, vibrant, creative, and full of purpose. She loved to sing, braid hair, and fill our home with music and laughter. Now, all that remains is a deafening silence." Addressing Sentamu directly, she added: "You brutally murdered her in the most humiliating way, in broad daylight, as she begged for mercy. You walked away without remorse, as if her life meant nothing. You didn’t just kill Elianne—you destroyed me mentally and emotionally. Your actions were senseless and evil."

The court heard that Sentamu lashed out in "white-hot rage," stabbing Elianne repeatedly on the morning of September 27, 2023. The attack stemmed from a conflict the day before, when Sentamu encountered Elianne and her friends at the Whitgift shopping centre. Upset by what he perceived as mockery, he later told a friend he couldn't "let this slide." The next day, wearing a mask and gloves, Sentamu armed himself with a knife and arranged to meet his ex-girlfriend to return her teddy bear in exchange for some of his belongings. When he arrived empty-handed, Elianne stood up for her friend—prompting Sentamu to fly into a rage, chase her down, and stab her repeatedly as she lay on the ground.

Her father, Michael Andam, said in his statement: "I close my eyes and see the horror she must have endured—the fear, the pain—and it breaks me over and over again. I wonder if she was calling for me, hoping I would save her. But I wasn’t there. I couldn’t protect her. That guilt will weigh on me for the rest of my life."

During the trial, the court was told of Sentamu’s troubled past. At just 12 years old, he received a police caution for bringing a knife to school. His violent behavior included attacking girls, putting them in headlocks, and threatening to harm a foster carer’s cat. A month after Elianne’s murder, while detained at Oakhill Secure Training Centre, Sentamu lashed out when another inmate accused him of "killing girls." His chilling response: "I'll do it again. I'll do it to your mum. Do you want to end up like her—six feet under?"^‍ In mitigation, Pavlos Panayi KC said there were no words that could "minimise, justify, or excuse" such a "horrific" crime.

Elianne’s cousin, Denzil Larbi, recalled their shared love of rap music and described her murder as a "living nightmare." She said: "To see a 15-year-old lying in a mortuary is something no family should have to endure. People say time is the greatest healer, but I can’t see how time will ever heal this kind of wound. Time will never bring her back. She was only 15. She should still be here."