Relatives of a young girl held a vigil last weekend, broken by the cowardly act of knife crime performed in Croydon, South London.
15 year old Elianne Andam was stabbed on the 27th of September as she tried to protect her friend from her ex-boyfriend. In retaliation, the 17 year old boy, charged for her murder just two days later, plunged a foot long machete into Elianne’s neck.
This death was personal; the child responsible for the death of a bright and beautiful future had potentially premeditated his exes’ friends killing.
It was first reported that the 17 year old boy had passed his ex girlfriend a bunch of flowers in an attempt to rekindle their relationship, and when she had declined his offer, he had stabbed her, however this is not the case.
In reality, it was his ex girlfriend’s courageous friend, Elianne, who was stabbed after trying to stand up to him and take back her friend’s possessions from the boy. He then gave chase and murdered her on her way to school.
The 17 year old awaits trial next year for her murder, with the police not in search for any further suspects.
What makes Elianne’s murder even more poignant is the way in which it was received by her community, as well as the general public.
Messages praising Elianne’s life and offering condolences to her family have been flooding social media platforms such as Tiktok and Instagram, leading young people to realise that in this current age, deaths from knife crime are considered the norm. As young people, we really need to ask ourselves whether this is the society we want to raise our children in. At the vigil, one community leader’s message read:
“When all the attention has gone, who’s left behind? Us. We are going to rise from this.”
Pastors from all across the city paid their respects to the tragedy, displaying Elianne’s love for her church and family, and mourning the loss of not only a beautiful soul, but a bright future.
Elianne was set to become a lawyer and was attending Old Palace of John Whitgift School.
Amongst the mourners was rapper Stormzy, who frequently campaigns about the dangerous effects of knife crime, having grown up in the same area.
Croydon once held the place for the highest level of knife crime in the UK, however crime rates had fallen last year – this is why Elianne’s death is all the more shocking on her community.
Thousands gathered for her vigil, situated outside a shopping centre close to where Elianne lost her life, with family, friends and pastors reading heartfelt messages, “absolutely devastated” by the loss of their girl. For most, “it hasn’t sunk in yet.” Her community will never forget her legacy, dreams, a future which would have been rich in success and happiness.
A choir sang in remembrance of Elianne, and for the protection of her family, for a crime so lacking in peace and understanding.
Elianne grew up surrounded by her church community, and so it was felt necessary for so many members of her church and for other pastors within the city to come together and rally around a family which has felt so great and shocking a loss.
As the end of the vigil nears, a balloon is released, symbolising Croydon’s both anger and hope for the future, the heartfelt loss of the community for such a young and selfless soul.
A young girl, a hopeful future, killed in such a cowardly way, shocking and shattering an entire community.