Teen Sentenced to 23 Years for Murder of 15-Year-Old Elianne Andam in Croydon

Hassan Sentamu, 18, was convicted of stabbing Elianne Andam during a dispute over a teddy bear, cutting short her aspirations of becoming a human rights lawyer.

Elianne Andam, a 15-year-old aspiring human rights lawyer, was fatally stabbed in the neck by 18-year-old Hassan Sentamu in September 2023 in Croydon, London.
The attack occurred after a dispute over a teddy bear during a meeting to exchange possessions following the breakup between Sentamu and Elianne's friend.
Sentamu, who had a history of violence and carrying knives, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years, after being found guilty of murder and possession of a knife.
Elianne's parents described her as a vibrant and hardworking girl with big dreams, expressing their devastation over her senseless murder and the lasting grief it caused their family.
Authorities and community members, including a mural in her honor, have called for action against knife crime, particularly violence targeting young women.