Jurors are told that a troubled past does not justify the brutal murder of a teenager
Croydon: A jury is hearing that a tough upbringing and autism can’t excuse the brutal murder of 15-year-old Elianne Andam. The accused, 18-year-old Hassan Sentamu, allegedly stabbed her during a dispute over a teddy bear outside the Whitgift Centre.
Sentamu, who didn’t testify, claims his autism made him lose control during a meeting to swap belongings with his ex-girlfriend, who was friends with Elianne. But the prosecution argues he acted out of rage and had no reason to carry a knife, which he picked up after feeling disrespected.
Prosecutor Alex Chalk KC pointed out that Sentamu was angry and took the knife to assert dominance. He emphasized that Elianne was just trying to escape and posed no threat. In his closing remarks, Chalk dismissed the defense’s arguments as weak, stating there was no proof that autism led to such violent behavior.
Sentamu, who moved to the UK from Uganda at age five, has a history of violent incidents, including bringing a knife to school. After Elianne’s death, he reportedly threatened another inmate, showing a troubling pattern of aggression.
While acknowledging Sentamu’s difficult past, Chalk insisted it shouldn’t be used as an excuse for murder. He argued that many people with tough backgrounds don’t resort to violence, and that taking a life is never an acceptable option.
Defense attorney Pavlos Panayi KC argued that there are two sides to the story, but he admitted the killing was a severe overreaction to being splashed with water the day before. Sentamu has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder and carrying a blade. The trial is ongoing.
