The trial of Hassan Sentamu continues, with psychiatric evidence expected next week as jurors hear testimonies and view crucial footage.
Croydon: So, there’s this ongoing trial about a teenager named Hassan Sentamu, who’s accused of killing 15-year-old Elianne Andam. The judge just told the jurors to take a break for Christmas, but things are heating up.
Hassan, who’s 18, says he didn’t mean to murder Elianne. He claims he has autism, which he argues made him less responsible for his actions. He took a knife to Croydon town center on September 27, but insists he had a good reason for it.
What happened was pretty tragic. Elianne was stabbed after she tried to grab a plastic bag from Hassan. She was just trying to help a friend out, but it ended badly. Hassan ran off after the incident and was caught about an hour and a half later near his home.
As the trial kicked off on December 11, the jurors got to see some important CCTV footage and heard from the prosecutor. They’ve been going through witness testimonies and police interviews day by day, which has been quite intense.
On the seventh day, they went over some agreed facts about Hassan’s background. His lawyer mentioned that he wouldn’t be taking the stand, which is a big deal in these cases.
The judge, Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb, reminded the jurors not to look up anything online during their break. She also mentioned that they should expect some psychiatric evidence when the trial picks back up on January 6. It’s a lot to take in, and the judge wished everyone a peaceful holiday.
