A teenage boy acused of murdering 15-year-old Croydon schoolgirl Elianne Andam as she made her way to school is set to stand trial in April next year.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of stabbing the teenage girl to death on September 27 in a confrontation shortly after she and friends had stepped off a London bus.
He appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, as Recorder of London Judge Mark Lucraft KC remanded him in custody until a provisional trial starting on April 29.
The boy, wearing a black top, grey tracksuit trousers, and flanked by five guards, stood with his hands behind his back in the dock at the start of the Old Bailey hearing.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan said the boy is accused of a “brutal attack” in which Elianne was “stabbed repeatedly”.
”Aid was attempted to be administered to Elianne”, said Ms Morgan. “Her life couldn’t be saved and multiple stab wounds were identified in the post mortem.”
Elianne’s aunt Miriam broke down in tears and had to be helped out of the courtroom as details of the stabbing were aired.
The boy was arrested at 9.45am on the day of the stabbing.
The accused teenager spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth, and was told he will return to court on December 19 for a plea hearing.
He sat with his head between his legs at times during the hearing, and occasionally reclined on to the wood-panelled back of the dock.
The teenager has not yet entered pleas to charges of murder and possession of a knife.
Elianne, a keen gymnast and cheerleader, was a year 11 pupil at Old Palace of John Whitgift school in Croydon.
She suffered a fatal knife wound as she stepped off a No 60 bus with friends in Wellesley Road, near the Whitgift Centre, at around 8.30am last Wednesday.
At a vigil after her death, Rosemarie Mallett, the Bishop of Croydon, read a statement from Elianne’s family, saying: “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. We are overwhelmed by sorrow and grief but our faith in the Lord is strengthening us.”
Members of Elianne’s family were in court at the Old Bailey for the hearing.
