Two teens on trial accused of murdering Amen Teklay with sword

Two teenagers have gone on trial charged with murdering a 15-year-old boy in Glasgow with a sword.

Amen Teklay died after being found seriously injured in the city’s St George’s Cross in March last year.

The boys on trial, aged 16 and 17, both deny murder.

Prosecutors claim the boys – who cannot be identified due to their age – brandished a sword and frying pan at Amen and were wearing masks.

The charge states Amen was chased and struck with the sword and left so severely hurt that he died on Clarendon Street.

The 16-year-old accused 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 allegedly got rid of a bloodstained top at a close in the city’s Charing Cross and later disposed of the sword.

The indictment states this was all done in a bid to avoid “detection, arrest and prosecution”.

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 boys to attack Amen in the city’s Great Western Road on February 12, 2025.

The charge includes claims that he was repeatedly punched and kicked in 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 him as well as shouting and swearing at him.

On Thursday, proceedings began with the reading of the 16-year-old’s special defence of self-defence for the murder charge.

The self-defence was stated: “The 16-year-old was attacked by Amen Teklay who was armed with a bladed weapon and in defence of his co-accused who was under attack from Amen Teklay.”

Judge Lord Colbeck’s opening remarks to the jury were interrupted by a fire alarm.

The trial at the High Court in Glasgow before Lord Colbeck is expected to last eight days.

Amen lived in Glasgow with his father, but was originally from Eritrea.

He was described as “bright” and “kind”.