A candle lit vigil will be held in Croydon honouring the life of Elianna Andam, 15, after she was stabbed to death last week.

She was attacked in broad daylight on Wednesday, September 27 on her way to school at around 8.30am.

Elianne was pronounced dead at the scene just after 9.20am.

Her family have described her as “bright” and “funny” and have said that her friends adored her.

The vigil will take place between 6pm and 8pm outside the Whitgift Shopping Centre.

The northbound carriageway from Park Lane, including Wellesley Road, will be closed and diversions will be in place during the vigil.

Croydon Police shared a statement about the vigil on Facebook.

They said: “Police are working with the organisers of a candle lit vigil being held in honour of Elianne Andam on Wednesday, October 4.

“This will take place between 6pm and 8pm outside the Whitgift Shopping Centre, Wellesley Road, Croydon.

“The northbound carriageway from Park Lane, including Wellesley Road, will be closed and diversions will be in place.

“This is to ensure the safety of those attending the vigil and the general public.

“Please plan your travel accordingly.”

A boy, 17, has been charged with murder and possession of a knife and will face a murder trial in the spring.

He was arrested 75 minutes after the fatal stabbing.

The teen, who cannot be identified because of his age, is alleged to have killed Elianne Andam as she made her way to school in Croydon. 

Elianne had met up with two female friends on September 27 before she was attacked.

It is claimed her attacker wearing a mask and gloves had removed a large knife from his waistband and stabbed Elianne repeatedly.

As he fled the scene, others attempted to administer first aid but Elianne could not be saved.

Multiple stab wounds were identified in a special post-mortem examination.

The defendant was arrested in New Addington at 9.45am the same day.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said: “It was, the prosecution alleged, a brutal attack.”

On Monday (October 2), the 17-year-old defendant appeared at the Old Bailey charged with murder and having a knife.

He wore a black sweater and grey jogging bottoms and sat between officers in the dock.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC set a plea hearing for December 19 and a provisional trial from April 29.

He said the case would be heard at the Old Bailey most likely before Judge Richard Marks KC.

The defendant was remanded into youth detention accommodation.

Members of Elianne’s family sat in the well of the court during the half-hour long hearing.

Previously, they have said in a statement: “We as a family are struggling to comprehend this painful tragedy that has happened to our beautiful daughter and beloved sister Elianne. Our hearts are broken.

“Elianne was a beautiful person inside and out who loved Jesus. She was intelligent, thoughtful, kind and had a bright future ahead.

"It is our request that you keep our cherished daughter Elianne and our family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Flowers and cards have also been left near the scene where the attack took place.

One of the cards reads: “Sorry we live in this crazy world this makes no sense.

“Fly high up there my mummy will look after you. RIP beautiful, forever young, taken too soon.

“Thoughts and prayers are with your family and friends, God bless.”

A woman described seeing a bus driver and another woman trying to save 15-year-old Elianne.

The mother-of-two, who only wanted to be known as Bridget, said she saw the two people trying to resuscitate the girl on the pavement.

She said: “I was on the bus before and came off and walked back down, I saw them resuscitating her.

“The driver was holding her and a lady.

“The emergency services were already here when I walked back.”

A man also described how he and others chased a boy after the girl was stabbed.

Victor Asare was on a bus on the way home from a night shift as a security worker when he said he saw a boy stab a girl in the neck with a knife which was “black, thin and about a foot long”.

The 50-year-old said: “It looked like the girl didn’t want the boy to come closer.”

He then described the boy stabbing the girl in the neck with a black knife.

“The blood was coming like water,” he added.

“A lot of people came, everyone came off the bus. [The boy] ran away. Everybody was crying and screaming. The girl was on the floor.

“We tried to catch him and a lot of people tried to save the girl. I was so shocked, I was shaken. It’s somebody’s daughter.

“I finished work but couldn’t sleep, so came back, I wanted to see if the girl was OK.”