A teenager accused of murdering a 15-year-old boy claimed he felt guilty that his alleged victim had died.
The 17-year-old boy’s police interview was played on Tuesday to a jury in the murder trial of Amen Teklay.
The 17-year-old and his 16-year-old co-accused 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 frying pan at Amen while both masked.
It is said 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 17-year-old’s police interview was played to the court with a detective constable giving evidence at the trial.
The DC and a detective sergeant quizzed the 17-year-old at a police station on March 23, 2025 when he was arrested.
The 17-year-old initially did not answer the detective constable’s questions which related to the alleged murder incident.
The DC later asked the boy if he felt guilty that Amen had died, and the 17-year-old replied: “Yes.”
The 17-year-old went on to say that although he knew of Amen, the incident was the first time he had ever seen him.
He then denied ever being threatened by Amen or having any “bad blood” with him.
However, the boy did admit that Amen had “some battles” with the 16-year-old on trial and another 16-year-old.
The 17-year-old referenced two videos of the three youths in a conflict which jurors had previously watched.
The DS referenced possible “tension” after a dispute over a stolen phone, which involved Amen in November 2024.
The 17-year-old told officers that he was aware the 16-year-old on trial had a “red machete” which he described as a “big sword thing.”
When asked if this was the knife he saw the 16-year-old on trial stab Amen with, the 17-year-old replied: “Yes…just once.”
It was stated that Amen was stabbed “around his chest…it looked like it was around his chest.”
The 17-year-old claimed that Amen had “kinda like a pirate’s sword” at the scene of the alleged murder.
When asked how they ended up meeting Amen, the 17-year-old stated that another youth told them he was in the Firhill area.
He claimed to have been told to “watch out” as “apparently Amen had a knife on him.”
Amen was stated to have been in a black Honda Civic and the 17-year-old claimed they went to look for him to “see what he was doing here.”
It was claimed that a couple of the youths left the area before he and the 16-year-old came across Amen – who was allegedly wearing a balaclava.
The 17-year-old stated that the 16-year-old on trial – who was also allegedly in a balaclava – and Amen were initially shouting at each other.
It was claimed that the 16-year-old on trial “kept saying it’s Ramadan, we don’t need to do this” to “try and avoid the fight.”
The 17-year-old stated they swung knives at each other but they were “dodging and missing.”
The 17-year-old claimed that he “moved back” and picked up a frying pan to try and dodge any potential swing.
It was stated that Amen saw him with the pan and asked the 17-year-old: “What are you saying?”
The 17-year-old claimed that he did not reply to Amen.
He later said the 16-year-old on trial: “Seen the chance and just stabbed him.”
When asked what he did after the stabbing, the 17-year-old replied: “I just froze for a couple of seconds and then Amen has gone.
“I just ran straight to the bus stop and waited for the bus then got the bus to my friend’s house.”
He stated that he threw the pan that he had over a wall.
The 16-year-old on trial is stated to have picked up his e-scooter as well as the knife and put it in its case.
Amen was stated to have ran away and tripped as well as cried.
When the 17-year-old was asked if he was involved in any gangs, he replied: “No” but stated that the 16-year-old on trial was.
The gang was stated to be called the “TCB.”
It was asked of the 17-year-old if he could just have left the scene after the knife was pulled out.
He replied: “I mean I could have, but then I would have been called names and stuff.”
The boy added: “I wasn’t expecting like someone to die…though there are two swords…I thought everything would just calm down or someone would run away.”
The 17-year-old claimed that he didn’t think Amen had died and did not contact the emergency services. The boy further said that his phone had ran out of battery at the time.
He stated that he found out about the murder on social media.
DS Owen put to him that witnesses saw three people involved in a fight and the 17-year-old replied: “No one was fighting. They kept moving and I kept moving.”
It was suggested that Amen was seen trying to walk away but was followed by two males who appeared to have confronted him, the 17-year-old replied: “No.”
The officer asked: “Are you responsible for Amen Teklay’s death?”
The 17-year-old said: “No.”
The DS asked: “Was it your intention to kill him?”
The 17-year-old replied: “No.”
Iain McSporran KC, defending the 17-year-old, asked the DC: “Other than a few examples, he spoke very freely?”
Mr McSporran added: “Is that surprising to you?”
The DC said: “It is largely down to advice he gets from the lawyer, but it was quite surprising.”
In later questioning, the advocate put it to the detective constable that his client “maintained the position that he had not participated in any way?”
The DC replied: “That’s his stance.”
The trial continues on Wednesday before Judge Lord Colbeck.
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