Murder-accused 'did not lay finger on Amen Teklay', court hears

A teenager accused of murdering 15-year-old Amen Teklay did not lay a finger on him, a jury has been told.

The 17-year-old and his 16-year-old co-accused are on trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The teenagers are stated to have assaulted Amen 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 a 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 the city’s Clarendon Street.

A special defence of self-defence has been lodged by the 16-year-old boy on trial.

The jury heard the closing speech of the 17-year-old’s defence counsel, Iain McSporran KC, on Friday.

Mr McSporran said: “He didn’t lay a finger on Amen Teklay – the prosecution doesn’t suggest otherwise. He didn’t lay a finger on him.

“He didn’t in any way use the frying pan, which he equipped himself, and he was not charged with using it. There was no evidence that he brandished it. The charge said he brandished it. He doesn’t use it in any way.”

The advocate earlier told the jury that his client went to the police with his father three days after the alleged murder.

He said: “My client told the police what happened and who was responsible.

“He did not try and hide that he was there, why he was there and what happened and he did nothing.

“He was a child who wanted to tell the truth and he was telling the truth when it got him in bother. As far as he was concerned, he did nothing and that continues to be his position.”

Jurors were previously told that the Crown claimed that the 17-year-old was “acting in concert” with the 16-year-old who stabbed Amen and had a “common criminal plan.”

Mr McSporran denied this adding: “If you believe my client and his account you must acquit him. He said he did not think this would end up in the way that it did and didn’t sign up to this. He played no part.”

The advocate stated that the prosecutor “did not challenge” the 17-year-old’s position that “he was there, it blew up, they were fighting with swords, he was trying to stay out of it and didn’t do anything.”

Mr McSporran also touched on an eye witness evidence that the boys were “trying to punch each other.”

The advocate stated that the witness was three floors up, it was dark and raining so he “could not get a good view.”

In closing, Mr McSporran said: “The prosecution have not proved my client is a murderer. He has proved his innocence.”

The trial continues before Judge Lord Colbeck, who will send the jury out for deliberations this afternoon.