A teenager fatally stabbed schoolgirl Elianne Andam in a moment of "white-hot anger" following a dispute over a teddy bear, a court at the Old Bailey has heard.

‍

‍

Hassan Sentamu, 18, is accused of murdering Elianne, 15, in Croydon on September 27, 2023. Jurors were told that Sentamu attacked Elianne with a kitchen knife after she took back a plastic bag of his belongings in solidarity with her friend, who had not received her teddy bear as part of an item swap.

Prosecutor Alex Chalk KC argued that the stabbing was fueled by anger rather than any diminished responsibility related to Sentamu’s autism diagnosis. “The catalyst for this dreadful attack was rather more simple: anger. White-hot anger at having been disrespected in public by girls," Chalk told the court.

‍

The court heard that Sentamu, then 17, armed himself with a kitchen knife before traveling by bus to the Whitgift Centre in Croydon. The meeting with his ex-girlfriend, Elianne, and their friends was intended to exchange belongings. However, tensions escalated when Elianne retrieved a bag Sentamu had already been given.

Jurors were told that Sentamu chased Elianne, cornered her, and stabbed her multiple times, including a fatal wound to the neck.

Sentamu admitted manslaughter but denies murder, claiming a "loss of control" due to his autism and adverse childhood experiences. He also disputes carrying the knife unlawfully.

The prosecution, while acknowledging the challenges posed by autism and Sentamu's background, argued these factors do not justify his actions. "This was an act of anger, not diminished responsibility," Chalk said.

The trial continues, with the court set to determine whether Sentamu’s actions constituted murder or manslaughter.