Chilling CCTV footage reveals the moment that Elianne Andam’s killer runs towards her just moments before stabbing her to death.
Hassan Sentamu, 18, is accused of murdering 15-year-old Elianne outside a Croydon shopping centre by stabbing her in the neck.
The defendant, who was studying sports science at Croydon College, has admitted manslaughter but denied Elianne’s murder on the basis of “loss of control” because he has autism.
On Monday, the Old Bailey heard how Sentamu had arranged to meet in Croydon town centre with his ex-girlfriend - a friend of Andam’s - and her group to exchange possessions ten days after they broke up.
Jurors were told that Sentamu had failed to bring his ex-girlfriend’s teddy bear and flew into a rage when Andam snatched back the bag her friend had brought.
CCTV footage released as part of the trial shows Andam grabbing the plastic bag from Sentamu in what the prosecution called a “gesture of solidarity”.
Moments later, Sentamu is seen chasing Andam down the street.
The court heard that Sentamu then cornered Andam and used a kitchen knife to stab her repeatedly.
The 15-year-old suffered a deep wound to her neck and a severed artery, and she died at the scene around an hour later.
Separate footage released by police shows the moment that Sentamu is arrested by officers.
Sentamu only got as far as the bus stop near his home before being arrested less than 90 minutes later, the court was told.
Prosecutor Alex Chalk KC said that the prosecution acknowledged “with compassion” the challenges posed by autism and the impact “adverse” childhood experiences can have.
But Mr Chalk asserted that neither amounted to an “excuse, justification or defence” for Elianne’s murder.
Sentamu had a “short fuse” and on the day of the killing, he came to the end of it, jurors heard.
The prosecutor said: “His calculated decision to bring a knife to the scene meant that the consequences of that outburst for Elianne and her family were utterly devastating.”
Jurors were also shown messages between Sentamu and his ex-girlfriend, and between her, Andam, and other friends, in the days before the stabbing.
Sentamu broke off the relationship by messaging over Skype, saying: “Ur energy is dead I’m not rdy for a relationship…all the best.”
When she asked for her teddy bear back, he replied: “You can collect your ting on Wednesday before skl I’m gonna need my shit tho from the clothes to the pillows and flowers.”
Becoming increasingly impatient as she did not reply immediately, he then messaged: “Ur wasting my time do you want your thingy or not?
“If everything isn’t in the bag your not gonna get your dumb little bear.”
The court heard the girl had reported back to her friends, with Andam commenting: “He’s so rude.”
Mr Chalk said the victim was a popular schoolgirl and according to one of her friends: “Everybody loved Elianne.”
Members of Andam’s family sat in the well of the court as Mr Chalk outlined the case against Sentamu.
The Old Bailey trial before Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb continues.
