A young boy has confessed to killing 15-year-old student Elianne Andam in Croydon last year.
Elianne was stabbed at a bus stop as she headed to the Old Palace of John Whitgift School in south London on September 27.
The 17-year-old defendant denied murder but confessed to manslaughter when he appeared by videolink at the Old Bailey on Thursday morning.
The plea was not accepted by prosecutors, and a trial will occur from November 25 at the same court.
The boy, who cannot be identified because of his age, also denied possessing a blade in a public place.
Elianne had met two female friends before she was attacked.
It is claimed her attacker, wearing a mask and gloves, removed a large knife from his waistband and stabbed Elianne repeatedly.
As he fled the scene, others attempted to administer first aid but she could not be saved.
The defendant was arrested in New Addington at 9.45am the same day.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC previously said: ‘It was, the prosecution allege, a brutal attack.’
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