The family of murdered Croydon schoolgirl Elianne Andam have accused the government of not doing enough to tackle knife crime.
Speaking for the first time since the 15-year-old was stabbed to death six weeks ago, Elianne’s two aunties broke down in tears as they told Sky News how their family are “broken” and feel like they are “living in a nightmare”.
Elianne was stabbed to death at a bus stop in Croydon, south London, while she was on her way to school on 27 September.
Her aunt Ruby Paintsi fainted after Elianne’s mother called her to tell her the news.
She said: “My sister called and I could tell something wasn’t right. I said ‘are you OK?’ She said ‘no, Elianne has been stabbed – she’s dead’.
“Then a police officer took the phone off her and told me to get to the hospital – that I needed to support my sister. I remember getting there and I don’t remember anything else. I woke up with people around me – I’d fainted right there.”
Ruby added: “We’re broken. The whole family, broken. I keep waking up thinking this is a dream, but it’s not – it’s reality, she’s gone.
“I’ve never in my life been in so much pain. This is the first time I’ve left the house since it happened. When I see my sister – her mum – all I see is her tears.”
The large family have lived for decades in Croydon, which has the unenviable nickname of “knife crime capital of London”.
Another of Elianne’s aunts, Regina Boafa, said the authorities need to do more to tackle knife crime.
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“Something needs to be done, however they do it, it needs to change,” she said.
“We need more money, whatever it takes to be sorted, but the politicians, people making the decisions, they all have to come together and sort out this crime.”
All roads in Croydon town centre will be closed on Saturday morning as hundreds of people attend Elianne’s funeral.
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Ruby said she does not want people to remember Elianne as a victim.
“I will always remember her smile. That beautiful smile,” she said. “She was such a lovely girl. She loved church, she was a Christian – always proclaiming the gospel. She loved music and dancing.”
Regina added: “She just did things any normal 15-year-old girl would do. Lovely, bubbly, outgoing and so much to live for.”
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with Elianne’s murder.
