The Elianne Andam murder trial resumes at the Old Bailey today with the teenager accused of killing her on his way to the dock at the back of Court 15. Hassan Sentamu, 18, denies murder on the grounds his responsibility was diminished due to autism, and claims he had a ‘lawful’ reason for taking a knife to Croydon town centre on September 27, 2023.
Elianne was stabbed to death in the street after grabbing a plastic bag from Sentamu in a ‘gesture of solidarity’ with her friend, whose teddy bear Sentamu failed to bring to a post-breakup item exchange. Sentamu was arrested 90 minutes later near his home in Rowdown Crescent, New Addington, after fleeing the scene, disposing of the knife, and binning his face mask and gloves.
So far prosecutor Alex Chalk KC has shown jurors key bits of CCTV evidence, called first responders to give evidence, and gone through police interviews and pre-recorded cross examinations with the key witnesses. At the last hearing, jurors were given the agreed facts which detailed Sentamu’s upbringing and background.
Before the Christmas break, jurors were told they hear psychiatric evidence once the trial gets underway again. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb also warned the jury not to do their own research on the case, and to keep their thoughts to themselves.
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