December 18th 2024.
Hassan Sentamu, an 18-year-old, has been accused of stabbing 15-year-old Elianne Andam to death. It was a tragic event that shook the community in Croydon town centre, south London in September 2023. The prosecution claims that while Sentamu was on remand, he got into a heated argument with another prisoner at the Oakhill Secure Training Centre. The prosecutor, Alex Chalk KC, told the court that Sentamu angrily shouted at the prisoner, "do you want to end up like her, six feet under?" in reference to Elianne's death.
The prosecutor also revealed that during his time in remand, Sentamu ingested the contents of a chemically activated ice pack and expressed his desire to harm a staff member in a complaint. His foster carer testified that Sentamu had a quick temper and would often threaten to harm her cat if he didn't get his way. On one occasion, he even drank shower gel and grabbed a knife from the kitchen in an attempt to hurt himself.
It was also revealed that Sentamu had a troubled past, having been sent to a boarding school in Uganda at the age of 11 where he reported being physically abused. He returned to the UK the same year after injuring himself while fleeing from the school staff. In 2018, he brought a knife to his new school and threatened to kill himself, resulting in the police cautioning him. In 2019, he was placed into foster care and later excluded from school for threatening a pupil with a knife.
Sentamu's behavior continued to escalate, and in March 2020, he was sent to a Pupil Referral Unit after displaying disruptive and aggressive behavior, including slapping a teacher's hand, spitting at staff, and punching a student. Despite being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and moving to a special educational needs school, Sentamu still struggled with his temper.
The prosecution also presented evidence of Sentamu expressing suicidal thoughts on Snapchat, writing about his struggles with self-worth and contemplating suicide. His defense counsel, Pavlos Panayi KC, informed the jurors that Sentamu will not testify during the trial. He denies the murder charge on the basis of diminished responsibility due to autism and claims that he had lawful reasons for carrying a knife.
The trial is ongoing, and jurors will hear psychiatric evidence in January 2025 to help them reach a decision. The tragic death of Elianne Andam has left a lasting impact on the community, and the trial continues under the guidance of Mrs. Justice Cheema Grubb.
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