Teen fatally stabbed schoolgirl in neck in row over teddy bear, court hears

A teenager fatally stabbed a 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 on Monday: "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.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.