A dignified and respectful candle vigil for 15-year-old Elianne Andam will be held on Wednesday, October 4 at the exact place where she met her untimely death.
The vigil is intended to unite the community against knife crime , while demanding justice, and beautifully memorialize and honor the late Elianne Andam.
The vigil is expected to start from 7 pm until 8 pm on Wednesday, October 4, at the Whitgift shopping center, Wellesley Road entrance bus stop, where Elianne was gruesomely murdered by a 17-year-old boy.
Elianne was stabbed at a bus stop on Wellesley Road on Wednesday morning, as she made her way to school.
The 17-year-old boy of Ugandan heritage, who cannot be legally named because of his age, has been charged with Elianne’s murder and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday October 3.
He was arrested at an address in Croydon 75 minutes after the attack on Wednesday morning. Police said a knife was recovered in Cedar Road, about half a mile from the murder scene.
The accused appeared at the youth court sitting before Croydon Magistrates on Friday morning.
The boy, wearing a prison issue her tracksuit, spoke only to confirm his name, address and age.
District Judge Daniel Benjamin remanded him in custody to appear at Crown Court on Tuesday.
The court appearance came after a vigil was held for Elianne on Thursday night.
Her devastated mother Dorcas Andam, 45, broke down in tears as she laid flowers at the spot where her daughter died during Wednesday morning’s rush hour.
She was consoled by husband Michael and dozens of relatives as they paid their respects to aspiring lawyer Elianne, a pupil at Old Palace of John Whitgift independent girls’ school.
Ms Andam, a specialist nurse in child safeguarding, said they were heartbroken by her “senseless death”.
Her husband Dr Andam, 52, is a care home manager who holds a doctorate in Christian education and set up a religious youth charity in response to the 2011 London riots. He was born in Lewisham but attended school in Ghana before returning.
Sirrichie.com
“Our deepest sympathy goes out to the entire family at this difficult time”
