A TEENAGER has been charged with murder after a girl was stabbed while “trying to protect her friend”.
Elianne Andam, 15, died after being stabbed in Croydon while intervening in an argument between a friend and her ex-boyfriend on a No.60 bus.
11
Elianne Andam, 15, stabbed to death in Croydon – with teenager charged with murder
11
A tribute has been paid to the teenager Credit: TikTok
11
Elianne’s mother Dorcas was supported by the Bishop of Croydon (far right) Credit: Darren Fletcher
11
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has now been charged with murder and possession of a knife.
The teenager appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court today and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on October 3.
On Thursday, September 28, police found a knife in Cedar Road, Croydon.
Last night, Elianne’s devastated mum Dorcas Andam visited the bus stop where her daughter was killed.
The tearful relatives were seen in an emotional embrace with their arms wrapped around each other.
The group was joined at the venue by a local church leader, as well as James Watkins, Mainzworld community leader.
Standing with Elianne’s friends and family, Bishop of Croydon Rosemarie Mallett said: “I am here to make a statement on behalf of the family written by the family.
“We, as a family, are struggling to make sense of this painful tragedy that happened to our beautiful daughter and beloved sister, Elianne.
“Our hearts are broken. And we are crushed by grief and sorrow, faith in the Lord strengthens us.
“We would like to express our gratitude to those who have taken the time to send us thoughtful and compassionate messages and prayers.
“We kindly ask for your consideration and respect for our need for privacy as we try to come to grips with our deeply devastating loss.
“Elianne was a beautiful person inside and out who loved Jesus.
“She was intelligent, thoughtful, kind and had a bright future ahead of her.”
They left at least five bouquets of flowers before hugging each other and returning to the cars and van that brought them from the family home less than half a mile away.
TEARS FOR ELIANNE
Elianne was a pupil at the Old Palace of John Whitgift School, with the private school paying tribute to a “esteemed friend and pupil”.
She died tragically at a bus station in Croydon on Wednesday.
After the tragedy unfolded, the teenager was arrested in New Addington on a tram.
Security worker Victor Asare described how citizens rushed to help after the girl was attacked.
He said: “A lot of people came, everyone got off the bus.
“(The suspect) ran away. Everyone was crying and screaming. The girl was on the floor.
“We tried to catch him and a lot of people tried to save the little girl. I was so shocked, I was shaken. It’s somebody’s daughter.
“I finished work, but I couldn’t sleep, so I came back and wanted to see if the girl was okay.”
Emergency services were called to Wellesley Road at around 8.30am but the girl was pronounced dead at the scene 50 minutes later.
The bus driver and a bystander were seen desperately trying to save the girl before emergency services arrived, with police on the scene within two minutes.
She said two other students, believed to be friends of the victim, tried to get through the police cordon but were detained.
Anthony King, chairman of My Ends – a project which helps tackle youth violence in Croydon, was with the girl’s family after the incident and said they were “heartbroken”.
He added: “She had a bright future ahead of her. She was in her GCSE year.”
Mr King described the girl as an “absolutely amazing young lady” and said others said she was “cheerful, very comical”.
Her school said in a statement: “We are deeply shocked by the senseless and tragic death of our beloved and respected friend and student.
“The community of Old Court will take some time to come to terms with this terrible news, and we will offer support to our students as we try to do so.
“Above all, we send our love and deepest sympathy to the girl’s family at this unimaginably difficult time.”
11
Doctors fought to save the student, but she died at the sceneCredit: UKNIP
11
The officers who rushed to Elianne’s rescue also gathered to pay their respectsCredit: Ray Collins
11
Forensic investigator seen carrying flower from crime sceneCredit: PA
11
Forensic investigators at the scene near Whitgift Shopping Center in CroydonCredit: PA
11
A student is seen carrying flowers to lay for the sacrificeCredit: Jeremy Selwyn
11
Both ground and air ambulances rushed to the sceneCredit: Twitter
11
Bloodied bouquet seen on floor outside Whitgift Shopping CenterCredit: Peter Jordan
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: newstars.edu.vn