Two teenagers on trial for murder of 15-year-old Amen Teklay

Two teenagers stand trial at the High Court in Glasgow, charged with the murder of 15-year-old Amen Teklay. The defendants, now aged 16 and 17, are accused of attacking Amen on March 5, 2025, in the St George’s Cross area of Glasgow. Prosecutors claim that both boys, wearing masks, confronted Amen while wielding a sword and a frying pan, eventually chasing and striking him with the sword. The injuries sustained led to Amen’s death on Clarendon Street.

Amen, originally from Eritrea, lived in Glasgow with his father. The incident reportedly followed a series of earlier altercations, primarily involving the 16-year-old accused. Prosecutors allege that on February 12, 2025, the teenager collaborated with two other named boys to assault Amen on Great Western Road, where Amen was subjected to repeated punches and kicks to the head and body. Additionally, the 16-year-old is accused of intimidating Amen three days prior to the fatal attack by brandishing a sword and a metal barrier, and by shouting and swearing at him.

The prosecution further contends that the 16-year-old tried to obstruct justice by disposing of evidence linked to the alleged murder. Items reportedly discarded include tracksuit bottoms found in a garden at St George’s Cross, a bloodstained top left near Charing Cross, and the sword allegedly used in the attack. All of this, according to the indictment, was done to avoid detection, arrest, and prosecution.

Throughout the trial, the 16-year-old has entered a special defense of self-defense, claiming that Amen was the initial aggressor and was armed with a bladed weapon. Evidence presented to the jury includes CCTV and mobile phone footage of prior encounters between Amen and the accused youths near locations such as Chilo’s restaurant on Great Western Road and outside the Lismore Bar. The footage shows confrontations involving multiple youths, some appearing armed with knives or machetes. On the day Amen died, footage also indicated the 16-year-old took an item from a post box near his residence. Emergency services treated Amen at the scene outside 22 Clarendon Street, but he was pronounced dead shortly after. The trial is ongoing and expected to continue until July

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