Family and friends gather for funeral of murdered schoolgirl Elianne Andam

Elianne Andam’s funeral was held today in Croydon (Picture: PA)

The family and friends of teenager Elianne Andam, who was stabbed on her way to school, gathered for her funeral today.

A service for the 15-year-old was held at the New Life Christian Centre in Croydon, south London.

Speaking beforehand, Elianne’s aunts said the funeral would be a celebration of Elianne’s life because ‘she’s a girl that liked to bring joy to people’s lives’.

Elianne was stabbed several times on her way to school in Croydon on September 27, shortly after meeting up with two female friends. She died at the scene.

The teenager’s coffin was brought to the service in a white carriage drawn by four white horses with pink plumes.

The pallbearers, meanwhile, were dressed in dark suits with white shirts and pink ties.

One of Elianne’s aunts, Ruby Paintsil told the BBC her niece wanted to defend the voiceless and said: ‘She doesn’t like injustice; she likes justice for people.

The pallbearers wore pink ties that matched the horse’s pink plumes (Picture: PA)

‘Every time she’d get in trouble (it was) fighting for someone else.’

She said it was important that Elianne’s funeral was a celebration: ‘If Elianne was here she’d say ‘go on, have fun, don’t break down’, and things like that.”

Elianne’s other aunt, Regina Boafo Boafo, added: ‘It will be nice to celebrate it and for us, she will forever remain in our hearts – she can never be gone.”

Ms Paintsil said that Elianne’s mother, Dorcas Andam, was trying to be strong and added: ‘She is broken a lot… we have to keep comforting her. She hasn’t been herself, every day broken into pieces.’

Elianne was stabbed on her way to school on September 27 (Picture: PA)

Previously, Elianne’s family 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.”

The funeral was a celebration of Elianne’s life said her aunts (Picture: PA)

A post-mortem showed Elianne had suffered multiple stab wounds.

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with her murder and will face trial on April 29.

A candle-lit vigil attended by the rapper Stormzy was held outside the Whitgift shopping centre a week after her death.

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The teenager was stabbed multiple times on her way to school in Croydon.