Police ScotlandA 15-year-old boy allegedly murdered by two teenagers was stabbed through the heart, a trial was told.
Amen Teklay was stated to have been assaulted by the pair – aged 17 and 16 – in the St George’s Cross area of Glasgow on March 5, 2025.
Prosecutors claim the boys – who cannot be identified due to their age – brandished a sword and frying pan at Amen while both masked.
It is said that Amen, who lived in the city with his father, but was originally from Eritrea, was chased.
The charge states that he was struck with the sword and left so severely hurt that he passed away in Glasgow’s Clarendon Street.
The 16-year-old accused also faces an allegation of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
It is claimed he dumped tracksuit bottoms he had been wearing in a garden in St George’s Cross.
He also allegedly got rid of a bloodstained top at a close in the city’s Charing Cross.
The boy is further said to have disposed of the sword.
The indictment states this was all done in a bid to avoid “detection, arrest and prosecution” for the alleged murder.
The killing is said to have occurred after earlier incidents involving the 16-year-old and Amen.
Prosecutors allege the teenager teamed up with two other named boys to attack Amen in the city’s Great Western Road on February 12, 2025.
The charge includes claims he was repeatedly punched and kicked on the head and body.
A further accusation states the 16-year-old was “threatening and abusive” to Amen three days before the alleged murder by brandishing a sword and metal barrier at the youngster as well as shouting and swearing at him.
A special defence of self-defence has been lodged by the 16-year-old boy.
The trial at the High Court in Glasgow started on Wednesday with the reading of a joint minute of agreement.
Prosecutor Adrian Stalker told jurors that a post mortem of Amen revealed that the cause of death was “stab wound to the chest inflicted by a blade measuring 19 or 20 centimetres in length.”
The advocate stated that the blade entered the left side of Amen’s chest.
Mr Stalker said: “It passed through cartilage, the heart, muscles and right lung before exiting the body causing a stab wound to the back which measure one-and-a-half centimetres in length.”
It was stated that this resulted in “rapid blood loss” and was “unsurvivable.”
A knife was seized from a pavement on Clarendon Street which was described as a “zombie machete” with a grey and green handle as well as a black blade.
The machete was stated not to have been the murder weapon.
A knife sheath was recovered from under Amen’s body which would not have fitted the blade that was seized but could be adapted to be used for it.
DNA from Amen was recovered from clothing worn by the 16-year-old as well as an e-scooter seized by police.
The 16-year-old was arrested by police on March 7, 2025 while the 17-year-old was held on March 23, 2025.
Amen had received medical treatment on the pavement of Clarendon Street on March 5 2025 and was pronounced dead that night.
Evidence started with CCTV and mobile footage from February and March 2025.
A clip appeared to show Amen being attacked by three other youths outside Chilos restaurant in the city’s Great Western Road on February 12, 2025.
Mr Stalker asked a detective sergeant witness to identify one of the attackers, and she stated that it was the 16-year-old on trial.
Another clip from March 3, 2025 appears to show Amen and the 16-year-old “dulling for a fight” outside the Lismore Bar.
Ms Piggott said: “The 16-year-old and Amen Teklay both have knives giving chase to each other.
“They appear to be squaring up to each other and Amen Teklay runs away.”
Two hours later, footage from outside the 16-year-old’s home appeared to show Amen and two others “chasing” him.
In several clips, the 16-year-old is alleged to be seen taking an item from postboxes at his flat entrance and placing it in his trousers.
The trial continues on Thursday before Judge Lord Colbeck.
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