Croydon Schoolgirl Elianne Andam’s Murder Results in Teenager’s Arrest
A 17-year-old boy appeared in court on Friday, charged with the murder of 15-year-old Elianne Andam. Elianne was fatally stabbed at a bus stop in Croydon, south London. The teenager, whose name cannot be disclosed for legal reasons, attended a youth court at Croydon Magistrates’ Court and was remanded in custody until next Tuesday. He is scheduled to appear at the Old Bailey. The boy has been charged with murder and possession of a knife, and while he has not entered a plea, he is expected to face trial next year.
The court heard that Elianne was attacked on her way to school, while she was in the company of two friends. Police were called to the location of the stabbing on Wellesley Road in Croydon at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Elianne, who had been stabbed in the neck, received medical attention from paramedics but tragically died at the scene at 9:20 a.m. The 17-year-old suspect was arrested 75 minutes later in the nearby area of New Addington and subsequently charged. A knife was also recovered in the Cedar Road area of Croydon and will undergo forensic testing to determine if it was the murder weapon.
Elianne’s family is receiving support from specially trained officers. They expressed their devastation through a statement read by a church leader: “We as a family are struggling to comprehend this painful tragedy that has happened to our beautiful daughter and beloved sister Elianne. 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. It is our request that you keep our cherished daughter Elianne and our family in your thoughts and prayers.”
The private girls’ school, Old Palace of John Whitgift School, where Elianne was a student, also released a statement expressing their shock and grief. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the incident, emphasizing the importance of addressing knife crime. London Mayor Sadiq Khan pledged to continue working to end knife crime in the capital.
However, Khan’s remarks received criticism from users on X (formerly known as Twitter) who claimed that he had not done enough to tackle knife crime since becoming mayor in 2016. Khan is facing re-election in May next year.
This report includes contributions from PA Media.
