SECONDS BEFORE TRAGEDY

Horror moment girl, 15, is chased ‘by pal’s ex-boyfriend wielding a kitchen knife’ before she’s stabbed to death

Watch as Elianne Andam is chased along a street before she's stabbed to death

THIS is the moment a schoolgirl, 15, was chased "by her friend's ex-boyfriend wielding a kitchen knife" before being stabbed to death.

Horrific footage shows the seconds leading up to Elianne Andam's death after she tried to stick up for a friend in Croydon, South London.

Advertisement
Elianne died after trying to stick up for her friendCredit: MET POLICE/UNPIXS
CCTV footage showed the moment she was chased down the streetCredit: Met Police
The 15-year-old school girl ran for her life before being stabbed to deathCredit: PA
Video footage showed the moment Sentamu allegedly sprinted after Elianne when she grabbed his bag in defence of her friendCredit: Met Police

A court heard the schoolgirl was stabbed in the neck by her pal's ex-boyfriend, Hassan Sentamu, in a row over a teddy bear.

CCTV footage from September last year revealed Elianne grabbed a bag from Sentamu, who was then 17, in defence of her friend.

She then ran away from the bus stop, near Whitgift Shopping Centre.

Sentamu, who has admitted manslaughter but denies murder, sprinted after his ex-girlfriend's friend.

Advertisement

CCTV then captured the stabbing, allegedly showing Sentamu fleeing the scene and discarding the knife.

He was arrested at a bus stop near his home less than 90 minutes later.

Bodycam footage showed the moment he was stopped by officers walking across a park.

He told police his name was John before being asked to put his hands behind his back.

Advertisement

Most read in The Sun

killer comeback
Brian Capron breaks his silence on shock Corrie return as Richard Hillman
Xmas shocker
Paul Bradley reveals why he returned to EastEnders after 26 years
HORROR CRASH
Man, 27, arrested after dad is killed while walking dog in 'hit and run' crash
DOWN & OUT
We had no roof when horror storm hit & now our kids are homeless for Christmas

Sentamu asked: "Why, why, I didn't do nothing bro".

Meanwhile, video footage from the day before the killing showed a meeting between Sentamu and his ex-girlfriend, who threw water on him, jurors heard.

It comes as a court heard how Elianne was friends with Sentamu's ex-girlfriend, who had broken up with him 10 days earlier.

She was part of a group that had arranged to see Sentamu before school in order to exchange belongings following the break-up.

Advertisement

But he stabbed Elianne to death while in a fit of "white-hot anger" after failing to return a teddy bear, a court heard.

Horrified witnesses tried to save her, but the schoolgirl died at the scene a short time later.

Elianne Andam was stabbed to death on her way to schoolCredit: Central News
Bodycam footage revealed the moment police stopped Sentamu
Advertisement
He told officers his name was 'John'
The day before Elianne's death, Sentamu had met the girls at the Whitgift Centre where his ex-girlfriend threw water on him, a court heard

A post mortem found she suffered multiple stab wounds.

Sentamu, now 18, has admitted manslaughter and accepts he inflicted the fatal knife wound.

Advertisement

But he denies murder on the basis of “loss of control” because he has autism and possession of a blade in a public place as he had a "lawful reason" for carrying it.

Opening the trial at the Old Bailey today, prosecutor Alex Chalk said: "Having heard the evidence you may feel that the catalyst for this dreadful attack was rather more simple: anger.

"White-hot anger at having been disrespected in public by girls, both by Elianne on the day of the killing and previously."

Ten days before the alleged attack, Sentamu had broken up with his girlfriend by text, telling her: "Ur energy is dead I’m not rdy for a relationship…all the best (sic)."

When she asked for her teddy bear back, he replied: "You can collect your ting on Wednesday before skl I’m gonna need my shit tho from the clothes to the pillows and flowers (sic)."

Advertisement

The day before Elianne's death, Sentamu had met the girls at the Whitgift Centre where they "teased" him and his ex-girlfriend threw water on him, jurors heard.

He was splashed again and at least one of the girls joked that "tomorrow he would kill them all", the court heard.

Later that evening, Sentamu “brooded” about what happened and allegedly told a friend: "Bro, I can’t let this slide."

Sentamu was armed with a kitchen knife when he took a bus from his home in New Addington to she shopping centre on September 27 last year, the court heard.

Advertisement

He met up with his ex-girlfriend, who cannot be named, and her pals in a car park at the shopping centre.

Mr Chalk said: "The purpose of the meeting was to exchange belongings. (The ex-girlfriend) in particular was anxious to recover her teddy bear."

The ex-girlfriend stuck with her side of the bargain and handed him a plastic bag full of belongings, the court heard.

But Sentamu arrived empty-handed and a row broke out, jurors were told.

Advertisement

Mr Chalk added: "Elianne was aggrieved on her friend’s behalf. So, at around 8.30am whilst Hassan was walking outside the Whitgift Centre, Elianne took the plastic bag back.

"It was a gesture of solidarity with (her friend) 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 into her neck, severing the carotid artery and causing injuries that were unsurvivable.

Advertisement

"Despite the rapid arrival of the emergency services and intensive efforts over the course of nearly an hour, Elianne died at the scene."

Hundreds of people - including rapper Stormzy - paid tribute to Elianne in a candlelit vigil.

Her mum Dorcas Andam said her daughter was “smart, charismatic” and “loved living life to the fullest”.

The mum added: “She brought joy to so many, including her friendship group.

Advertisement

“She was an amazing, beautiful, girl. She loved and touched lives around her.”

In a moving tribute, the schoolgirl's family said they were "struggling to comprehend this painful tragedy".

They added: "Our hearts are broken. Elianne was a beautiful person inside and out who loved Jesus.

"She was intelligent, thoughtful, kind and had a bright future ahead.

Advertisement

"It is our request that you keep our cherished daughter Elianne and our family in your thoughts and prayers."

Members of Elianne’s family sat in the well of the court as Mr Chalk outlined the case against Sentamu.

The trial continues.

Advertisement
Stormzy joined hundreds of mourners at a vigil outside the Whitgift shopping centre in CroydonCredit: PA
An aerial view of the scene of the stabbing in Croydon last yearCredit: ITV/UNPIXS
Hundreds attended a vigil days after the schoolgirl's deathCredit: PA
Topics
Advertisement
machibet777.com