Hundreds of mourners – including rap superstar Stormzy – gathered at a candlelight vigil to remember a 15-year-old girl who was stabbed to death on her way to school.
With an image of Elianne Andam behind them, the crowds wore white and held candles at the scene of her death in Croydon, south London. Police and paramedics raced to Elianne on September 27, but she died less than an hour later.
Her friends and family gathered on Wednesday while a choir sang Amazing Grace. Stormzy, real name Michael Omari Owuo Jr, stood silently beside her family as they led mourners in prayer.
Elianne’s mother, Dorcas Andam, paid tribute to her “smart, charismatic” daughter, who “loved living life to the fullest”.
Ms Andam said: “She brought joy to so many, including her friendship group
“She was an amazing, beautiful, girl.
“She loved and touched lives around her.”
She said that she cannot believe that her daughter is gone.
Ms Andam said: “I can’t believe we won’t be seeing her anymore. I can’t believe she won’t be there to complain about her teenage activities. We should be planning her prom after year 11. She wanted to be a lawyer, and had so much to live for.”
She said her daughter was “just a normal teenager”. She added: “It was a sad day for the whole family, now we are planning her funeral.”
On the morning that she was fatally attacked, Elianne met with two female friends before travelling to the shopping centre. It is claimed her attacker, wearing a mask and gloves, had removed a large knife from his waistband and stabbed Elianne repeatedly.
As he fled the scene, others attempted to administer first aid but Elianne could not be saved. Multiple stab wounds were identified in a special post-mortem examination.
A 17-year-old boy was arrested in New Addington at 9.45am the same day. He will face a murder trial on April 29 of next year.
She said her daughter was “just a normal teenager”.
She added: “It was a sad day for the whole family, now we are planning her funeral.”
On the morning that she was fatally attacked, Elianne met with two female friends before travelling to the shopping centre.
It is claimed her attacker, wearing a mask and gloves, had removed a large knife from his waistband and stabbed Elianne repeatedly.
As he fled the scene, others attempted to administer first aid but Elianne could not be saved.
Multiple stab wounds were identified in a special post-mortem examination.
The alleged killer, a 17-year-old boy, was arrested in New Addington at 9.45am the same day.
He will face a murder trial on April 29 of next year.
