A teenager fatally stabbed a 15-year-old schoolgirl in a fit of “white-hot anger” after a row over her friend’s teddy bear, a court has heard.
Hassan Sentamu, 18, lashed out at Elianne Andam with a kitchen knife in Croydon town centre while he met with his ex-girlfriend and her group, the Old Bailey was told.
Jurors heard that Sentamu plunged his knife into Elianne’s neck after losing his temper at perceived “disrespect”, rather than returning a teddy bear belonging to Elianne’s friend, as part of an item swap.
Sentamu, who was 17-years-old at the time, has admitted manslaughter but denied Elianne’s murder, claiming a “loss of control” because he has autism.
Prosecutor Alex Chalk KC told jurors: “Having heard the evidence you may feel that the catalyst for this dreadful attack was rather more simple: anger.
“White-hot anger at having been disrespected in public by girls, both by Elianne on the day of the killing and previously.”
The defendant was already armed with the kitchen knife when he took the bus from his home in New Addington, south London, to the Whitgift Centre on the morning of 27 September 2023, jurors heard.
Mr Chalk told jurors: “The purpose of the meeting was to exchange belongings. (The ex-girlfriend) in particular was anxious to recover her teddy bear.”
During the meeting in a car park at the shopping centre, Sentamu’s ex-girlfriend, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, stuck with her side of the bargain.
She handed over a plastic bag containing his belongings but the defendant arrived empty-handed, jurors were told.
Mr Chalk said: “Elianne was aggrieved on her friend’s behalf. So, at around 8.30am whilst Hassan was walking outside the Whitgift Centre, Elianne took the plastic bag back.
“It was a gesture of solidarity with (her friend) that cost Elianne her life.
“The defendant chased after her, cornered her and used the kitchen knife to stab her repeatedly.”
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Mr Chalk said that Sentamu had pleaded not guilty to murder on the basis that his responsibility was diminished having been diagnosed with autism in 2020.
He also denies having a blade claiming he had a “lawful reason” for carrying it.
The prosecution acknowledged “with compassion” the challenges posed by autism and the impact “adverse” childhood experiences can have.
But Mr Chalk asserted that neither amounted to an “excuse, justification or defence”.
The trial at the Old Bailey continues.
