A teenage boy appeared in court on Friday charged with killing 15-year-old Croydon schoolgirl Elianne Andam.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be name for legal reasons, is accused of murder and possession of a knife.
The arrest
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.
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Ms Andam, a specialist nurse in child safeguarding, said they were heartbroken by her ‘senseless death’.
‘Her death was senseless’
It is alleged Elianne, a keen gymnast and cheerleader, died as she stepped in to defend her friend who was attacked as she got off a No 60 bus.
Police, paramedics and an air ambulance were called to Wellesley Road, near the Whitgift Centre, at roughly 8.30am on but Elianne died shortly afterwards.
The year 11 pupil at Old Palace of John Whitgift school, in Croydon, had just got off a double decker bus with a group of friends when she was attacked.
Elianne is the 15th teenage victim of homicide in London so far this year.
