Revealed: How murdered Croydon schoolgirl told friend ‘I’m not afraid to die, I’m going to heaven’ just a day before she was ‘stabbed to death by her friend’s ex-boyfriend’ by bus stop in horrific attack that’s shocked the nation
The heroic 15-year-old schoolgirl who was tragically murdered in Croydon yesterday told her friend ‘I’m not afraid to die, I’m going to heaven’ just one day before she was stabbed to death, MailOnline can reveal.
Elianne Andam, a pupil at the £20,000-a-year private school Old Palace of John Whitgift, was killed yesterday morning next to a bus stop by a schoolboy wearing a black blazer who is believed to have been trying to win over her friend – his ex-girlfriend – with flowers.
Within 75 minutes of the shocking attack which has sparked an outpouring of grief in the community and appalled the nation, a 17-year-old boy was arrested in New Addington on suspicion of murder.
In a heartbreaking tribute on TikTok today, Elianne’s friend has revealed the heartbreaking conversation she had with her beloved ‘soul sister’ just one day before she was killed. She revealed: ‘We were talking about death and she said ”I’m not afraid to die, I’m going to heaven and that’s that”’.
She continued: ‘She always called me the sister she never had, we did everything together, just look at our matching display names we were literally joined at the hip. Oh my sweet baby the pain you must’ve been in is scary to imagine my soul hurts endlessly. She didn’t deserve any of this, her six-year-old brother didn’t deserve this, her mum and dad, now they must come home each day to an empty space in which Elianne was supposed to fill.
‘Now her body must lay still in eternal peace as her spirit continues to live. I’ll love you always OUR HERO, you died a soldier.’
Paying tribute to her beloved friend on the online video sharing platform, she described their close bond and the devastation she has faced since yesterday morning.
Elianne Andam, a pupil at the Old Palace of John Whitgift private school, was killed yesterday morning by a bus stop – in a horrific attack that has shocked the nation
People at the scene in Croydon, south London, where 15-year-old Elianne Andam was stabbed to death on Wednesday morning
Police at the scene of a fatal stabbing in Croydon, South London
A tragic statement issued by the family earlier described their ‘beautiful’ child Elianne as the ‘light of our lives’.
READ MORE: Family of 15-year-old Elianne Andam stabbed to death on her way to school in Croydon say, ‘our hearts are broken by her senseless death’
‘She was bright and funny, with many friends who all adored her,’ it said. ‘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.’
Today police were given an extra 12 hours to quiz the suspect, who remains in custody at a south London police station.
A row spilt out of the number 60 bus outside the Whitgift Shopping Centre close to East Croydon station on Wednesday morning.
A teenage boy dressed in black is said to have stabbed the schoolgirl in the neck and chest with a ‘sword-like’ zombie knife when she stood in his way after her friend rejected his flowers and love letter before he was arrested on a tram an hour later.
A bus driver and passers-by battled to save her. But Elianne died on the pavement just minutes after the attack.
Her family, who had been called to the scene, rushed down to the bus stop but she died at 9.21am – before they could say goodbye.
A forensic investigator onboard the bus where the argument is believed to have started
Elianne, a pupil at the Old Palace of John Whitgift private school, was attacked at 8.30am yesterday as she got off the bus in Croydon
Cards left for Elianne at the scene of the stabbing yesterday – less than a mile from the school gates
First responders arrive to leave tributes at the scene of the attack in Croydon
Privacy screens and a tent outside the Whitgift centre in Croydon while a bus sits beside the pavement nearby
An aunt, who only gave her name as Marian, said: ‘You just can’t comprehend the heartbreak of the last 24 hours, how Elianne went to school and never came home’.
James Watkins, of Croydon crime prevention group Mainzworld, said the teenager’s family rushed to the scene but she had already died. ‘They were unable to say goodbye,’ he said.
A mother who had just dropped her children at school witnessed the scene moments after the attack.
The woman, from Streatham in south London, said she saw police officers take aside a bus driver who ‘looked like he was almost holding’ the 15-year-old victim.
She said: ‘I was driving past when I noticed that somebody was lying down on the floor.
‘I drove round, parked up and tried to get as close as I could. Two young girls were saying it was a young lady and she had been stabbed in the neck.
‘I haven’t really slept properly, because I still have that image of her lying there.’
Privacy screens have been set up around the scene of the stabbing in Croydon, south London
Forensic officers walk past the scene, which features several privacy screens
Locals say they saw a group of schoolchildren getting off the No 60 bus outside the Whitgift Centre
The attacker, whose weapon was described as being ‘as big as a sword’, then reportedly fled the scene, chased by brave passengers who had also been on the bus.
An hour after the attack, officers arrested a 17-year-old boy five miles away on a tram in New Addington at 9.45am.
Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain said police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
‘This is every parent’s worst nightmare, and I know the officers who responded this morning, along with our emergency service colleagues, are devastated at the victim’s death,’ he said.
‘This is an emotion I share and I know people across Croydon will be feeling the same.
‘The victim’s family has been informed and our thoughts are with them at what must be an incredibly difficult time.
‘We carried out urgent inquiries to find the suspect and within 75 minutes of the incident happening a 17-year-old boy was arrested in New Addington. He remains in custody and will be questioned by detectives.
Police officers laying flowers at the scene and taking a moment to reflect
The victim was a pupil at Old Palace of John Whitgift School in Croydon
Elianne’s aunt Marian told MailOnline of their grief today as it emerged her mother is an NHS children’s nurse who was paying for her daughter to go to a top school for a better life
‘We remain in the early stages of our investigation, however based on what we know so far we believe that we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this offence.
‘From our initial inquiries, we believe the suspect may have known the victim. However, we’re not in a position to release the victim’s identity at this time.’
A spokesman for the Old Palace of John Whitgift School said: ‘We are deeply shocked by the senseless and tragic death of our much-loved and valued friend and pupil.
‘It will take some time for the Old Palace community to come to terms with this terrible news, and we will offer support to our pupils as we try to do so.
‘Above all, we send our love and deepest sympathies to the girl’s family at this unimaginably distressing time.
Yesterday afternoon a white tent could be seen within a police cordon next to the double-decker bus.
Source: Read Full Article
