Teenager jailed for life for Elianne Andam murder over teddy bear row

National World - LocalTV

An “evil” teenager has been locked up for life for stabbing 15-year-old Elianne Andam to death in a row over a teddy bear.

Transcript

00:00But there is no justice that can truly bring us peace.

00:03No sentence will ever bring back our beloved Eliane, our beautiful, kind and faith-filled

00:08daughter, sister, cousin and friend as well.

00:12She was a light in all our lives, full of love for her family, her friends and her God.

00:18While we are grateful that the legal system has done what it can, the truth is that no

00:21amount of time in prison will ease our grief or fill the void that's left by her presence.

00:28Our only hope now is that the real change comes from this tragedy.

00:31Naive crime is robbing too many lives.

00:34We do not want another family to stand where we are today, mourning a life taken too soon.

00:39Something must be done.

00:40We would like to thank the emergency services and the police for their dedication in seeking

00:45justice for Eliane.

00:47We are also deeply grateful to the Creighton community for all the love and support, the

00:50compassion they have shown us in the darkest hours.

00:53Eliane deserved a long and beautiful life.

00:56Though she is gone, we will carry her in our hearts forever and we will continue to speak

01:00her name.

01:02I'm the family pastor, I'm going to issue another statement on behalf of the wider family.

01:09Today our family stands devastated and heartbroken, not only by the tragic and senseless murder

01:14of our beloved daughter Eliane Andam, but while the court has delivered its judgment,

01:19justice has not been served.

01:21The judicial system has failed to reflect the sheer brutality of the crime nor the unimaginable

01:26suffering our daughter endured at the hands of a murderer.

01:30It doesn't reflect the gravity of her loss.

01:33Our daughter Eliane Andam, a vibrant, bright and loving innocent 15-year-old with her entire

01:38future ahead of her until it was stolen in the most horrific way, brutally killed in

01:44broad daylight by a 17-year-old who showed no mercy, an act of unimaginable violence

01:49that has shattered our lives forever.

01:51The details of her murder are too gruesome to describe.

01:55Overhauling the broken judicial system, establishing effective deterrence, the fact that this crime

02:01was committed by a minor has unfortunately resulted in a sentence that we believe falls

02:06woefully short of true justice.

02:08Despite the horror of the crime, the premeditated nature of the attack, the brutality of her

02:13death and the permanent void it has left in our hearts, the legal system's response has

02:17left us feeling abandoned and unheard.

02:20While we acknowledge the need for rehabilitation in juvenile justice, we cannot accept that

02:24such lenient sentences are appropriate for violent, calculated crimes like this.

02:30The current legal framework does not deter young individuals from committing violent

02:34crimes.

02:35It does not provide sufficient accountability for those who commit the most heinous acts.

02:40It is clear that the current laws are failing, failing to protect victims, failing to hold

02:45offenders truly accountable and failing to deter other young individuals from committing

02:50similar atrocities.

02:52The message being sent is deeply concerning that minors can commit unthinkable crimes

02:56and still evade the full consequences of their actions.

Category

Transcript

Recommended