A 17-year-old boy has acknowledged the manslaughter of Elianne Andam, a 15-year-old girl, in Croydon but has denied committing murder. The tragic incident occurred last September when Elianne, on her way to school, was fatally stabbed at a bus stop during the morning rush hour. Despite the youth’s admission to manslaughter, prosecutors have not accepted this plea, leading to the scheduling of a trial at the Old Bailey on November 25. Additionally, the defendant has denied carrying a blade in a public place.

The attack on Elianne was described as brutal, with the prosecution detailing how she was repeatedly stabbed by a masked assailant. Despite efforts to save her life, she succumbed to her injuries. The loss of Elianne, a student at a private school described by her grieving family as the “light of our lives,” has left her loved ones and the community in profound sorrow. They remember her as a loving, kind, and intelligent individual with a bright future ahead. A candlelit vigil near the scene of the crime saw hundreds of mourners gather to honor her memory.

The family, struggling to come to terms with the magnitude of their loss, emphasized Elianne’s promising potential and loving nature in a statement read by the bishop of Croydon. As the trial approaches, it is hoped that justice will be served for Elianne, bringing some form of closure to those affected by this devastating event.