A professor of forensic psychiatry at Kings College London was expected to give evidence in the witness box for a third day this morning, as Hassan Sentamu is tried at the Old Bailey for the murder of Croydon schoolgirl Elianne Andam.
‘Beautiful soul’: the memorial mural and bench for Elianne Andam in Croydon town centre
On Monday, Professor Nigel Blackwood had told the court that Sentamu had “exacted vengeance” when he stabbed 15-year-old Andam repeatedly outside the Whitgift Centre in September 2023.
Sentamu has pleaded not guilty to murder, on the grounds of diminished responsibility because of his autism. He has also pleaded not guilty to carrying a bladed weapon.
Prof Blackwood had examined Sentamu following his arrest, which took place near his New Addington home less than two hours after the brutal attack. Sentamu had fled the scene, disposing of the knife, his face mask and gloves.
In his further evidence yesterday, including cross-examination by the defence team, Prof Blackwood said of Sentamu: “He can’t remember the full detail of the assault, but he can remember taking the knife out of his trouser pocket.”
On Sentamu’s decision to carry the knife to his agreed meeting with his ex-girlfriend and her friends, including Andam, he said: “Clearly that was a terrible one, he recognises that himself. It was deliberate, and thought through.”
Interceding on expert’s evidence: murder trial judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb
The knife, the professor said, was taken from the family home.
In his police interviews following his arrest, Sentamu, now 18, had offered “No comment” to many questions. In evidence yesterday, Prof Blackwood said that this displayed Sentamu’s ability to exert self-control and not “blurt out” comments.
“He is able to exert self-control. He knows there’s key evidence he has to get rid of… there’s no evidence for me of substantial inability to exercise self-control… He was neither manic nor depressed.”
Asked if autism prevented Sentamu from knowing what he was doing was wrong, the professor said, “No.”
Prof Blackwood told the court that diminished responsibility is not a defence in this case. He had diagnosed Sentamu as having conduct disorder, while other experts have assessed him as having ADHD – attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder – and autism.
Sentamu had met with many of the same group of girls at the Whitgift Centre the day before the killing, when he had been teased, taunted and had water thrown at him.
Andam had taken a SnapChat video on the day she was killed, just minutes before the fatal attack. The jury had been shown this video, among other evidence, earlier in the trial.
Defence barrister Pavlos Panayi KC asked the professor whether his diagnosis would have changed had he seen the SnapChat video that was introduced into the evidence after his assessment of Sentamu.
“I do not think anything in that footage changes what I think of what happened in the Whitgift Centre,” Prof Blackwood said. “That’s clear in my report… the girls were taunting him and throwing water at him.
Third day of testimony: Prof Nigel Blackwood
“He broods on that degree of disrespect shown to him, and his lack of action, and that informs him picking up the knife.”
He was also cross-examined on the evidence of Professor Seena Fazel, another forensic psychiatrist, and one who is expected to take the stand later today.
Asked by defence silk Panayi if it’s normal for two eminent psychiatrists to disagree, Prof Blackwood says: “Not always. But in this case, yes.”
Prof Blackwood was also asked if autism meant there was any impairment on Sentamu’s ability to exercise self-control,
With Sentamu sitting in the dock at the back of Court 15 of the Old Bailey, Prof Blackwood took a noticeably long pause before answering. “Anyone who has stabbed someone four times in response to a perceived threat from the previous day, clearly could act to assert self-control and not act in that way.”
The judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, interceded at this point and rephrased the question. The professor said he does not believe autism had any bearing on Sentamu’s ability to self-control.
The trial continues.
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