Elianne Andam: Murdered for protecting her friend
15-year-old Elianne Andam loved to sing, braid hair and hang out with friends in her hometown of Croydon, south London. By all accounts, she was a bright, creative teenager with her whole life ahead of her.
Everything changed on 23rd September 2023, when she was stabbed to death during an altercation on her way to school. She was killed by 17-year-old Hassan Sentamu while trying to protect her friend.
The senseless murder shocked Britain and sparked a national conversation about youth violence and femicide. What were Sentamu’s motives? Did he have a history of violence against women? How did he slip under the radar for so long?
We answer these questions and more in the brand-new series Ross Kemp: Lost Boys, Deadly Men premiering on Monday, 2nd March. The show examines the social and psychological pressures facing young men today, and how they can spiral into acts of unimaginable violence.
Elianne Andam: 'The kindest, most loving daughter'
Elianne was the light of her family’s life.
In a series of statements later read out in court, her mother, Dorcas Andam, said: '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.'
This warmth and joy made her a popular student at Old Palace of John Whitgift School, an independent girls' school in Croydon. Her teachers described her as a 'much-loved and valued friend and pupil' who dreamed of a career in law.
Her aunt, Marian Addow, said Elianne had a strong moral compass: 'She wanted to do something big. She was always reading and very academic. She wanted to become a human rights lawyer… justice was very important for her.'
The murder
On 23rd September 2023, Elianne and her friend arranged to meet Sentamu on their way to school near the Whitgift Shopping Centre. Sentamu and Elianne’s friend had recently broken up. He promised to return her teddy bear in exchange for a bag of his clothes. Elianne went along for emotional support, a decision that would ultimately cost her life.
When the teens met, the situation escalated into violence. Instead of bringing the teddy, Sentamu brought a knife. Elianne grabbed the bag of clothes from Sentamu and ran but he followed, stabbing her multiple times in broad daylight. Several members of the public called 999 and nearby schools were placed in lockdown.
Despite their best efforts, paramedics and doctors couldn’t save Elianne and she died from her injuries in hospital. Sentamu was arrested by police later that morning.
Untangling the motives
Why did Sentamu murder Elianne? It wasn’t immediately clear to investigators, who initially thought Elianne’s friend was the intended target. But something snapped in Sentamu that morning, causing him to act in unpredictable ways.
During the trial, the court heard how Sentamu was deeply jaded over the break-up. He said the girls had 'teased him' and told a friend he could not 'let this slide'. He felt disrespected and emasculated, emotions he couldn’t reconcile without violence.
Trial, sentencing and aftermath
In Sentamu’s case, prosecutors argued that this was a deliberate attack motivated by misogyny and poor emotional regulation. The teen had a history of violence against women and a chip on his shoulder from a society he believed had wronged him.
Sentamu pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but the jury rejected this and convicted him of murder. On 13th March 2025, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years.
Outside the Old Bailey, Elianne’s family expressed their frustration at the sentence. A family representative said: '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... We cannot accept such lenient sentences are appropriate for violent, calculated crimes like this.'
Despite a disappointing outcome for the family, Elianne’s death has prompted a wider conversation about femicide. Her case was one of several that inspired Stephen Graham to create the Netflix series Adolescence. The show is now played in schools to educate children about the dangers of radicalisation among young men.
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