(Image: non copyrighted photo given to author by source) September 27th marks one year since the tragic stabbing of 15-year-old Elianne Andam at a bus stop in central Croydon.

Hundreds gathered at the site of Elianne’s passing to commemorate her life. Her cousin, Rev. Denzil Larbil, addressed the crowd, calling for an end to knife violence. Her mother, Dorcas Andam, thanked everyone for coming and unveiled a new mural. She expressed her wish for people to remember Elianne as "the person she was and that she lived a happy life, rather than how she died."

A mural designed by Alec Saunders, a street artist professionally known as ALECLDN, depicts Elianne and has been placed at the bus stop outside Croydon’s Whitgift Centre. Saunders was approached by the Andam family and Westfield (the corporation soon to take over the Whitgift Centre) a few months after Elianne’s passing to commission a memorial piece. Alec Saunders shared insights into the creative process on his Instagram (@alecldn). He met with Elianne’s family and teachers to discuss how they wanted her to be portrayed. They settled on a street style using her favourite colours. Her mother, Dorcas, wanted her "faith and vibrant surroundings to marry with the grey surroundings."

Regarding the trial for Elianne’s murderer, a 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to manslaughter in March but denied murder and possession of a blade in a public place. The plea was not accepted by prosecutors, and a further trial is scheduled for November.