An English teenager named Hassan Sentamu was sentenced to at least 23 years in prison for brutally murdering 15-year-old Elianne Andam back in September 2023. Reportedly, Sentamu murdered Andam after she took back a bag full of his ex's belongings, which included a teddy bear.
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According to a Metropolitan Police press release, the murder took place on September 27, 2023. Sentamu had one of Andam's friends who had previously ended their relationship. The pair had arranged for a meet-up in which they would exchange each other's belongings. Andam's friend brought a bag full of Sentamu's items, including a teddy bear. Sentamu, however, upon arrival, came empty-handed.
Hassan Santamu, at the time, was wearing black gloves and a mask. Unbeknownst to his ex-girlfriend and Elianne Andam, he was also carrying a knife on his waistband. While confronting Sentamu over his failure to bring her friend's belongings, Andam took the bag her friend previously gave to Sentamu.
Sentamu immediately gave chase to Andam, brandishing the knife he had in his possession. Eventually, he caught up to Andam and brutally stabbed her multiple times, hitting her neck. Witnesses provided medical attention, as Sentamu fled the scene and attempted to get rid of the knife. They reported Sentamu to the authorities and he was eventually arrested while on his way home. Shortly after, Elianne Andam succumbed to her injuries.
Sentenced
It was later revealed that, while Sentamu has not explained his murder, he was reportedly humiliated by a group of girls just one day before the incident. Reportedly, the group of girls, with Andam among them, threw water on him. Sentamu then texted a friend, "Bro, I can't let this slide."
Months after Andam's brutal death, Hassan Sentamu pleaded guilty to manslaughter, citing autism as a mitigating factor. Sentamu, however, was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to at least 23 years in prison.
Detective Chief Inspector Becky Woodsford, who led the investigation, hopes bringing Sentamu to justice will help Andam's family cope with her tragic death.
"In the moments before her death, Elianne was laughing and smiling, completely oblivious to Sentamu's rage and the events that were about to unfold," Woodsford said. "She was simply standing up for her friend - doing what she thought was right"
Elianne Adnam's parents, Dorcas and Michael, also addressed Sentamu's sentencing and remembered her daughter who was taken too soon.
"At just 15 years old she had her whole life ahead of her, filled with hopes and dreams for the future - all cruelly taken away from her and from us. Her death has left a void in our lives that can never be filled," Dorcas and Michael Andam said. "Today, we choose not to dwell on the pain of the trial but instead to honor Elianne's memory. She was a bright, kind, and loving soul who embraced life, her faith, and her belief in standing up for what was right."
