Elianne Andam: Murdered schoolgirl’s family call for action on knife crime
The family of murdered Croydon schoolgirl Elianne Andam have accused the government of not doing enough to tackle knife crime.
Speaking for the first time since the 15-year-old was stabbed to death six weeks ago, Elianne’s two aunties broke down in tears as they told Sky News how their family are “broken” and feel like they are “living in a nightmare”.
Elianne was stabbed to death at a bus stop in Croydon, south London, while she was on her way to school on 27 September.
Her aunt Ruby Paintsi fainted after Elianne’s mother called her to tell her the news.
She said: “My sister called and I could tell something wasn’t right. I said ‘are you OK?’ She said ‘no, Elianne has been stabbed – she’s dead’.
“Then a police officer took the phone off her and told me to get to the hospital – that I needed to support my sister. I remember getting there and I don’t remember anything else. I woke up with people around me – I’d fainted right there.”
Ruby added: “We’re broken. The whole family, broken. I keep waking up thinking this is a dream, but it’s not – it’s reality, she’s gone.
“I’ve never in my life been in so much pain. This is the first time I’ve left the house since it happened. When I see my sister – her mum – all I see is her tears.”
The large family have lived for decades in Croydon, which has the unenviable nickname of “knife crime capital of London”.
Another of Elianne’s aunts, Regina Boafa, said the authorities need to do more to tackle knife crime.
Elianne Andam
Pic:Met Police
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“Something needs to be done, however they do it, it needs to change,” she said.
“We need more money, whatever it takes to be sorted, but the politicians, people making the decisions, they all have to come together and sort out this crime.”
All roads in Croydon town centre will be closed on Saturday morning as hundreds of people attend Elianne’s funeral.
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Stormzy attends stab victim vigil
Ruby said she does not want people to remember Elianne as a victim.
“I will always remember her smile. That beautiful smile,” she said. “She was such a lovely girl. She loved church, she was a Christian – always proclaiming the gospel. She loved music and dancing.”
Regina added: “She just did things any normal 15-year-old girl would do. Lovely, bubbly, outgoing and so much to live for.”
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with Elianne’s murder.
UK
Masked burglars ‘raid’ Windsor Castle grounds ‘while William, Kate and children slept at home on estate’
Masked burglars have stolen farm vehicles from the Windsor Castle estate while members of the Royal Family are believed to have been asleep nearby.
Two men scaled a 6ft fence on the night of 13 October and used a stolen truck to break through a security gate, The Sun first reported.
The pair then fled with a pick-up and a quad bike that were stored in a barn.
The King and Queen were not in residence.
But the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Louis were believed to have been in their home, Adelaide Cottage, on the estate, according to The Sun.
The family moved there in 2022.
In a statement, Thames Valley Police said: “At around 11.45pm on Sunday 13 October, we received a report of burglary at a property on Crown Estate land near to the A308 in Windsor.
“Offenders entered a farm building and made off with a black Isuzu pick-up and a red quad bike. They then made off towards the Old Windsor/Datchet area.
“No arrests have been made at this stage and an investigation is ongoing.”
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
On Christmas Day 2021, a man climbed a fence at Windsor Castle armed with a crossbow and claimed he wanted to kill Queen Elizabeth II.
Jaswant Singh Chail was handed a nine-year custodial sentence for treason, possession of an offensive weapon and making threats to kill.
The UK is braced for “disruptive snow” as yellow weather warnings cover large parts of the country until Tuesday – with the Met Office saying there is the “potential” for the alerts to be “escalated”.
The forecaster has warned up to 20cm of snow may accumulate in the worst affected areas as the country experiences its “first taste of winter”.
The Met Office has also told people to expect ice, cold temperatures and wintry showers this week.
Check the forecast in your area
A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place for much of the north of the country – covering areas in the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Wales and the north of England – from 7pm on Monday night to 10am on Tuesday morning.
Those in the impacted areas have been told power cuts are possible and mobile phone coverage might be affected.
The Met Office has said there is a “slight chance” some rural communities could be cut off and that bus and train services may be delayed or cancelled.
People are also warned to be careful not to slip or fall on icy surfaces.
The Met Office has said there will be bright spells across northern and eastern areas throughout today, but rain in the south and west will gradually spread northeastwards and turn to snow over northern hills.
Parts of the UK are experiencing their ‘first taste of winter’, says the Met Office. File pic: PA
Tom Morgan, Met Office meteorologist, said: “We could see some disruptive snow in the Pennine regions, in particular, the Peak District as well, especially Monday night, but we could well see some impacts lasting on until Tuesday morning’s rush hour.
“Even down to lower levels, we could well see some snow as well, so quite a bit of disruption possible by Tuesday morning, and then the week ahead is likely to stay cold nationwide, a windy day on Tuesday, and then winter showers through the week ahead.”
Mr Morgan said that despite a “mild” start to the month, the cold conditions are more typical of “mid-winter to late-winter”.
“What we can say is that it’s going to be very cold for the time of year, there will be widespread overnight frosts, and a few locations where there’s snow on the ground,” he continued.
The yellow weather warnings in place across the UK
Meanwhile, a yellow snow and ice weather warning that came into force at 4pm on Sunday will end at 11am this morning.
The warning covers the northern tip of Scotland and people there have been told there may be icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.
The Met Office has said there is “potential” for both yellow warnings to be “escalated”.
In southern England, a typical maximum temperature for this time of year is 11C (52F), but daytime highs for the week ahead are forecast to be around 5C (41F), while some parts of Scotland will reach “only just above freezing”, Mr Morgan said.
The meteorologist said the public can best prepare for the wintry weather by checking their cars are suitable for icy and potentially snowy conditions and to take extra supplies including food, blankets and a fully charged mobile phone with them on journeys.
He added there were “likely” to be changes to the weather warnings in the coming days, and that “winter flurries” could be seen in the south of England later in the week.
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Despite the cold conditions, the “whole of the UK” will enjoy more sunshine this week, the meteorologist added.
He said: “There’ll be some snow showers in the peripheries of the UK, particularly northern Scotland, and down the east and the west coast, but if you live inland and you live in the south, there’ll be lots of sparkly blue skies on the most days through Tuesday to Friday.”
It comes as a cold weather alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency, which was introduced at 9am on Sunday, will be in place until 9am on Thursday.
It covers a large area of England, north of Northhampton. The alert is triggered when there is a risk that healthcare services might face extra pressure and is designed to prepare those who are “particularly vulnerable” and “likely to struggle to cope”.
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