Autistic Teen Killer Wanted Revenge: Croydon Stabbing Sparks Chilling Courtroom Revelations

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Teen Accused of Croydon Schoolgirl’s Murder ‘Wanted Revenge’ Over Insults and Disempowerment, Psychiatrist Tells Court

The teenager accused of murdering 15-year-old Elianne Andam acted out of a desire for revenge rather than diminished responsibility, a forensic psychiatrist told the Old Bailey, dismissing claims that his autism significantly impaired his judgment at the time of the attack.

Hassan Sentamu, now 18, admitted to manslaughter but denies murder, claiming his autism spectrum disorder reduced his culpability. The court heard that on the day of the fatal stabbing, Sentamu had brought a kitchen knife with him to confront a group of girls outside the Whitgift Centre in Croydon.

Professor Nigel Blackwood, a leading forensic psychiatrist from King’s College London, testified that Sentamu’s actions were deliberate. He explained that Sentamu had felt:

"Offended, Belittled, Disrespected and Totally Disempowered"

after an altercation the previous day when Elianne and her friends, including a girl Sentamu had recently dated, teased him and threw water over him.

The court heard that Sentamu had "brooded" on the incident overnight and decided to carry a knife the next day. "He made a terrible decision," Prof Blackwood said, adding,

"He wanted to exact revenge."

The prosecution, led by Alex Chalk, KC, highlighted Sentamu’s actions after the attack, which included disposing of his clothes, fleeing the scene, and contacting a friend. Prof Blackwood told jurors that these actions showed a clear understanding of the wrongfulness of his crime. "He was entirely aware of what he had done," he said.

Prof Blackwood also referenced incidents from Sentamu’s past, including threats to other students with weapons. In March 2019, he threatened a fellow pupil with a knife during a residential trip but calmed down after deep breaths. In May of the same year, he threatened another student with scissors but restrained himself to avoid expulsion from school. "He could exert self-control when motivated," Prof Blackwood concluded.

The court also heard from Dr Sinéad Marriott, a psychologist from Great Ormond Street Hospital, who evaluated Sentamu after his arrest. Dr Marriott described a comprehensive profile of autism-related symptoms, including an Extremely Low IQ and profound difficulties managing anger.

She agreed that breakdowns in romantic relationships, teasing, bullying and especially any form of social disempowerment would be especially challenging for him. However, she did not provide an opinion on whether his autism provided a defence of diminished responsibility.

ACCESS TO THE LAW: Understanding the Crime and Sentencing

As part of our campaign to improve citizens’ access and understanding of UK Criminal law, we will be explaining the relevant UK legislation surrounding any case law relevant to our articles:

The Defence of Diminished Responsibility:

In English criminal law, diminished responsibility is a partial defence to murder, governed by Section 2 of the Homicide Act 1957, as amended by the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. This defence reduces a murder charge to manslaughter if the defendant can prove three critical elements:

1. The defendant was suffering from an abnormality of mental functioning due to a recognised medical condition.

2. This abnormality substantially impaired the defendant’s ability to understand their conduct, form rational judgments, or exercise self-control.

3. The abnormality was a significant contributing factor in causing the defendant to commit the killing.

In the trial of Hassan Sentamu, who has admitted manslaughter but denies murder, his defence is centred on his autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis and Extremely Low IQ. His legal team argues these conditions significantly impaired his ability to manage social disempowerment, rejection, and anger, which contributed to the fatal stabbing of Elianne Andam.

Medical evidence presented to the court is pivotal in this case. Professor Nigel Blackwood, a leading forensic psychiatrist, testified that although Mr Sentamu experiences profound difficulty managing emotions linked to social rejection and Disempowerment, he believed the defendant still understood the wrongfulness of his actions. Prof Blackwood pointed to Mr Sentamu’s preparation for the attack, his escape efforts, and his disposal of evidence, arguing these behaviours demonstrated deliberate decision-making and awareness of the consequences.

Similarly, Dr Sinéad Marriott, a psychologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital, agreed that Mr Sentamu’s autism and cognitive impairments would have made him highly vulnerable to social conflict and breakdowns in relationships. She confirmed his difficulty in processing rejection, teasing, or social humiliation would likely amplify his anger. However, her testimony did not directly challenge Prof Blackwood's assessment that Mr Sentamu could exercise some self-control.

The success of a diminished responsibility plea rests on whether the jury accepts that Mr Sentamu’s cognitive and emotional impairments substantially impaired his ability to make rational decisions or resist violent impulses. The emphasis on his extreme difficulty in handling social disempowerment is a crucial factor, but evidence of premeditation and attempts to evade capture weakens the defence.

If jurors are not persuaded by the diminished responsibility claim, Mr Sentamu faces a mandatory life sentence for murder. If the defence succeeds, a manslaughter verdict would allow for greater judicial discretion, taking into account his mental health needs and prospects for rehabilitation alongside punitive considerations.

This trial underscores the nuanced application of mental health defences in serious criminal cases, where expert evidence must be weighed carefully against the defendant’s conduct and the law’s high threshold for reducing culpability.

Sentamu, has declined to testify in his defence, but maintains his plea of diminished responsibility. The trial, presided over by Mrs Justice Cheema-Grub at the Old Baily Continues …….

Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.

Bénédict Tarot Freeman

Editor-at-Large

VPN City-Desk

citydesk@vpnldn.co.uk