Elianne Andam’s mum pays tribute at Croydon bus stop where daughter, 15, was killed as family ‘overwhelmed by sorrow’
ELIANNE Andam’s mum has paid tribute at the Croydon bus stop where her 15-year-old daughter was killed – with her family “overwhelmed by sorrow”.
Old Palace student Elianne was stabbed in Croydon after a boy tried to give his former girlfriend flowers and a love note on the No60 double-decker bus.
Around 30 family members and close friends arrived at the scene just before 6pm, and stood for around ten minutes in the spot where Elianne was fatally wounded.
Weeping relatives were seen emotionally embracing with their arms wrapped around one another, as they consoled family members.
The group were joined at the scene by the leader of a local church, as well as Mr King and James Watkins, the leader of the Mainzworld community group.
They left at least five bouquets of flowers at the scene before hugging and returning to cars and a minivan which brought them from the family home less than half a mile away.
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 comprehend this painful tragedy that has happened to our beautiful daughter and beloved sister Elianne.
“Our hearts are broken. And we are overwhelmed by sorrow and grief our faith in the Lord is strengthening 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 to also respect our need for privacy as we attempt 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.
“It is our request that you keep our cherished daughter Elianne and our family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you very much.
“The family will not be saying anything more than that.”
The boy is said to have pulled out a foot-long, serrated zombie knife and stabbed Elianne when she leapt to her pal’s defence on Wellesley Road in south London yesterday.
Both the land and air ambulance rushed to the scene but she was pronounced dead at the scene 40 minutes later.
Around an hour and 15 minutes after the stabbing, police arrested a teenage boy in connection with the girl’s death.
A 12-hour extension to his custody time limit was granted this morning.
Today Elianne’s family told of their pain in a heartbreaking tribute.
A spokesperson for Elianne’s family said: “Our hearts are broken by the senseless death of our daughter.
“Elianne was the light of our lives. She was bright and funny, with many friends who all adored her.
“She was only 15, and had her whole life ahead of her, with hopes and dreams for the future.
“All those dreams have now been shattered. Our lives have fallen apart, along with that of our wider family.
“We ask the media to please respect our privacy as we try to grieve the short life of our beautiful child.”
It comes after Marian, an aunt of the teenage victim, told the Sun outside the family home just half a mile from the crime scene: “She had a bright future ahead of her.
“She was a lovely girl, loved doing her hair. She wanted to be a lawyer, and she was at a private school paid for by my sister.
“We are devastated by this. She was a 15-year-old, what can you say? This is a tragedy and the worst that’s happened to the family.
“It’s a big family and everyone has come together for my sister, we are supporting each other.
“We can’t comprehend the heartbreak of the last 24 hours. We hope to put out a further statement later.
“She went to school and she didn’t come home.”
Asked how Elianne’s mum was feeling, the aunt said: “Not good. It only happened yesterday.”
A family friend of Elianne said her little brother “is going to be so heartbroken”.
Police were today seen searching a drain in front of the parked bus and in long grass as the investigation continues.
Croydon resident Adama Dumbuya, 30, said: “It’s just really sad. She was such a lovely little girl. I’m a parent myself.
“She was just really lovely the few times I’ve met her. She’s just a very nice girl and very polite.
“She helped a lot to look after her brother. I just can’t imagine what he is going to be like. She had a little brother.
“I know they were so close. She always looked after him. He is going to be so heartbroken.”
Anthony King, chairman of My Ends – a project helping combat 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 incredible young lady” and told of how others said she was “jovial, very comedic”.
Yesterday at the scene, a bloodied bouquet was seen on the floor outside the Whitgift shopping centre.