Croydon schoolgirl killer jailed for life—family slams ‘soft’ sentence for brutal daylight murder!
By Ben Freeman
Inside Court One of the Old Bailey, where the weight of history lingers in the high, wood-paneled walls, Mr Justice Cavanagh prepared to deliver his judgment.
The defendant, Hassan Sentamu, stood in the dock, his expression impassive, shoulders slightly hunched. At just 18 years old, he now faced the ultimate reckoning for the murder of 15-year-old Elianne Andam, a crime that had shocked the nation and ignited fierce debate about youth violence, disempowerment, and the failure of intervention systems.
The courtroom was silent but tense, as the judge’s words carried across the chamber. For Elianne’s grieving family, seated in the public gallery, this was the moment they had waited for—the moment when justice, in whatever form it could take, would be delivered.
The Judge’s Condemnation
With deliberate care, Mr Justice Cavanagh addressed the defendant directly. His voice was measured but firm, underscoring the gravity of the crime.
“Hassan Sentamu, you have been convicted of the murder of Elianne Andam, a young girl with her whole life ahead of her. Your actions were brutal, calculated, and driven by a moment of uncontrollable rage. This was no accident, no momentary lapse in judgment. This was the deliberate taking of a young life, and for that, you will face the full weight of the law.”
The judge paused, allowing the significance of his words to settle over the court.
“The jury rejected your claim of diminished responsibility. They found, rightly, that you knew precisely what you were doing when you took that knife and plunged it into Elianne’s neck. The attack was swift, violent, and entirely unprovoked. It was an act of revenge, borne out of your overwhelming inability to handle social disempowerment.”
Sentamu, who had claimed his Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) impaired his ability to control his emotions, had been comprehensively dismissed by the court-appointed psychiatric experts. The evidence painted a different picture—one of a young man deeply consumed by feelings of humiliation, disempowerment and resentment, who reacted to perceived disrespect with shocking and irreversible violence.
The Prosecution’s Case: A Murder of Ego and Rage
The Crown’s lead prosecutor, Edward Franklin KC, had left little room for ambiguity in his closing arguments:
“This was an act of lethal entitlement. Hassan Sentamu believed he had been slighted, that his standing among his peers had been undermined. Rather than walk away, rather than show the restraint expected of any rational person, he chose the path of deadly violence.”
Franklin KC meticulously detailed the events of that fateful morning in September 2023. Elianne Andam, a bright and ambitious schoolgirl, had simply been accompanying a friend—Sentamu’s former girlfriend—when she became the unintended target of his pent-up aggression.
CCTV footage, played in court, had captured Sentamu withdrawing a common kitchen knife from his pocket, the blade gleaming under the streetlights, before launching a single, fatal strike to Elianne’s throat. It took mere seconds, but the consequences were eternal.
“This was no frenzied attack, no loss of control,” Franklin continued. “The defendant was calm enough to walk away, to dispose of the knife, and later to concoct justifications for his actions. That is not the behavior of someone overwhelmed by their condition—it is the behavior of a calculated killer.”
The jury, by a 10–2 majority, agreed.
The Defence: An Argument Rejected
In stark contrast, defence counsel Anthony Beck QC painted a picture of a young man failed by the system, arguing that Sentamu’s ASD diagnosis meant he lacked the same emotional regulation as his peers a low IQ and no ability to cope with any form of social disempowerment.
“My client did not act out of malice, but out of an inability to process rejection and humiliation in a neurotypical way. His mind does not function as others’ do, and this tragic event was the direct result of that cognitive struggle.”
Beck further argued that Sentamu’s history of emotional dysregulation had been well documented, yet social services, schools, and intervention programs had failed to provide him with the necessary support. He urged the judge to consider a lesser sentence, one that reflected Sentamu’s diminished responsibility, rather than treating him as an ordinary offender.
But the court was unmoved. The psychiatric assessments, rigorously tested under cross-examination, had firmly concluded that while Sentamu’s ASD may have influenced his emotional state, it did not impair his ability to distinguish right from wrong.
The Sentence: A Lifetime Behind Bars
After a measured silence, Mr Justice Cavanagh turned to the final matter at hand—the sentence. His voice was unwavering.
“There is only one appropriate sentence for a crime of this nature.”
A hush fell over the court.
“Hassan Sentamu, for the murder of Elianne Andam, I sentence you to life imprisonment. You will serve a minimum of 23 years before you can be considered for parole. Let this be a message that those who take lives in senseless acts of violence will be held fully accountable for their actions.”
From the public gallery, Elianne’s mother let out a silent sob, her hands trembling, as her daughter’s killer was led away. Across the aisle, Sentamu’s own family sat in stunned silence, the weight of the moment crushing down on them.
But the story does not end here. The case of Hassan Sentamu does not exist in isolation. It is part of a broader and more troubling pattern—one that mirrors another chilling case, separated by mere months.
And as I sat in the courtroom today, observing the raw grief, the cold legal precision, and the inescapable finality of justice being delivered, another name loomed in my mind.
Parallel Paths to Tragedy – The Cases of Hassan Sentamu and Axel Rudakubana
In examining the harrowing case of Hassan Sentamu you can' t but also think of the case of Axel Rudakubana, the Southport Mass Murderer, which makes fearsome parallels emerge that shed light on systemic failures and the devastating consequences of unaddressed warning signs.
Backgrounds and Early Warning Signs
Both young men where from immigrant families and both exhibited troubling behaviors well before their heinous acts. Sentamu, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 14, had a history of violent incidents, including threatening classmates with weapons. Despite these red flags, effective interventions were lacking. Similarly, Rudakubana's descent into violence was marked by early warning signs. His parents contacted the police four times within six months, concerned about his behavior.
On one occasion, he was found carrying a blade on a bus, but instead of being detained, officers returned him home, advising his mother to keep knives out of his reach. Additionally, he had been referred to the Prevent program three times between 2019 and 2021 due to disturbing behaviors and expressed violent ideation, yet he was never enrolled in a de-radicalization scheme.
The Crimes
Sentamu's crime was a spontaneous act of violence. On September 27, 2023, following a dispute over a teddy bear, he fatally stabbed 15-year-old Elianne Andam in the neck outside the Whitgift Centre in Croydon. Despite her pleas, his rage led to her tragic death.
In contrast, Rudakubana's (who was also diagnosed with ASD) attack was premeditated. On July 29, 2024, he entered a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport armed with a 20cm kitchen knife. Over 12 minutes, he brutally murdered three young girls—Bebe King (6), Elsie Dot Stancombe (7), and Alice da Silva Aguiar (9)—and injured ten others. His actions were described as "ferocious" and "sadistic," with some victims suffering dozens of stab wounds inflicted with such force that bones were broken.
Judicial Proceedings and Sentencing
Both individuals faced the full force of the law. Sentamu was convicted of murder and possession of a kitchen knife. The judge, Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb, sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years, emphasizing the severity of his crime and his premeditated act of bringing a knife to the scene.
Rudakubana, who refused to appear in court during sentencing, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 52 years by Mr. Justice Julian Goose. The judge noted that due to the extreme nature of his crimes, it was likely he would spend the rest of his life in custody.
Systemic Failures and Missed Opportunities
Both cases highlight significant systemic failures. Despite clear warning signs—Sentamu's history of violence and Rudakubana's repeated referrals to Prevent—interventions were either insufficient or absent. These lapses underscore the need for more robust mechanisms to identify and manage individuals exhibiting violent tendencies, especially when mental health issues are present.
Impact on Families and Communities
The repercussions of these tragedies are profound. Elianne Andam's family expressed their perpetual grief, highlighting the senseless loss of a beloved daughter.
In Southport, the families of the young victims conveyed their devastation. The community was left in shock, grappling with the horror of an attack on innocent children. The families thanked emergency services for their bravery and compassion, acknowledging the profound impact on all involved.
Elianne Andam’s Family Speak Out After Her Killer is Sentenced
Elianne Andam’s father, Michael Andam, spoke of his unimaginable grief in his statement to the Old Bailey:
"I close my eyes and see the horror of what she must have endured – the fear, the pain – and it breaks me over and over again. The thought of her final moments torments me – wondering if she was calling out for me, hoping I would save her – but I wasn't there.
"I couldn't protect her. That guilt will weigh on my heart for the rest of my life."
Her mother, Dorcas Andam, described the unbearable loss of her only child:
"Elianne was my world, she was the kindest most loving daughter I could have asked for; she was vibrant, creative and purposeful. She loved deeply, loved to sing, to braid hair, always practising new styles. Our home was full of her music, laughter and energy. There was always warmth and joy when Elianne was there.
"Now the music has stopped, the laughter has gone - all that is left is a deafening silence that echoes through my life."
Addressing her daughter’s killer, Dorcas Andam said:
"You brutally murdered her in the most humiliating way in broad daylight; mercilessly killing her on the floor as she begged for mercy.
"You walked away showing no remorse as if her life meant nothing. You did not only kill Elianne, you killed me mentally and emotionally. Your actions were senseless and evil."
Elianne’s cousin, Rev. Denzil Larbi, expressed his anger and heartbreak but also questioned whether more could have been done to prevent this tragedy:
"What would have happened if maybe another male took him by the hand and maybe invested in him and mentored him? Or if other organisations really took him by the reins and said: 'Yes, we recognise you're struggling here, we're here to listen.'
"I really wonder if maybe my cousin would still be here."
He recalled the devastating moment he found out Elianne had been killed:
"I picked up to my sister, and she told me that Elianne is dead. I remember I just froze. Me and my wife just stood there, weeping."
Minutes before that call, he had seen a news report about a 15-year-old girl stabbed in Croydon:
"I remember I just paused and really felt for the family, you know, what they must be going through."
But then he realised—that family was his family.
Elianne had been a much longed-for “miracle baby,” Rev. Larbi said, after her parents had struggled to have children.
"I always wanted a younger sister," he smiled. "I used to babysit and take her to school, and pick her up at times when her parents were working. She was very joyful, very funny, very cheeky. She was just a bundle of joy."
They bonded over music and their shared Christian faith. Elianne loved singing, dancing, and had dreamed of becoming a human rights lawyer.
He described her murder as "the most monstrous evil act imaginable," adding:
"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. I cannot 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."
The Old Bailey heard that the day before Elianne was killed, she and her friends had thrown water at Hassan Sentamu, trying to get him to apologise to his ex-girlfriend. That evening, he called a friend and said:
"I can't let this slide."
Rev. Larbi explained what that meant:
"We knew exactly what that meant. We knew it meant he's going to bring some sort of harm.
"I honestly believe if it wasn't Elianne it would have been someone else, and so yeah, he was looking to bring some sort of revenge that day."
Rev. Larbi also reflected on the moments before Elianne passed away, when a stranger stopped to comfort her:
"I remember that bringing me a great sense of sadness, but also comfort, to know that someone from the community of Croydon really comforted her in her last breath."
The family found strength in the outpouring of support from across the world. Roads were closed for a vigil in Elianne’s honour, and flowers and cards arrived from every corner of the globe.
"There are many Hassans just walking around Croydon,"
Rev. Larbi said.
Young boys who are angry, young boys who are lost, young boys that want to be listened to. But I do believe there are great people in our community, great organisations who are in place who can really help and support these young people."
On the first anniversary of her death, the family unveiled a mural at the spot where she died.
Outside court, after Sentamu was sentenced, Pastor Mark Rossell spoke on behalf of the family:
"Our daughter Elianne Andam was a vibrant, bright and loving innocent 15-year-old with her entire future ahead of her, until it was stolen in the most horrific way. Brutally killed in broad daylight by a 17-year-old who showed no mercy."
Mr. Rossell condemned the justice system, saying it had "failed to reflect the sheer brutality" of Elianne’s murder. The family criticised the minimum term handed to Sentamu, saying it had left them feeling "abandoned and unheard."
"We cannot accept such lenient sentences are appropriate for violent, calculated crimes like this."
The cases of Hassan Sentamu and Axel Rudakubana serve as grim reminders of the catastrophic consequences when warning signs are ignored, and interventions fail. They highlight the urgent need for systemic reforms to better identify and manage individuals at risk of committing violent acts, aiming to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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
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