A murder trial revealed that a teenager accused of the fatal sword attack on 15-year-old Amen Teklay did not physically harm him. Amen was discovered gravely injured on Clarendon Street in Maryhill, Glasgow, on March 5 last year. Despite efforts by paramedics, he tragically succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, are facing allegations of murdering Amen in the sword assault, with the trial ongoing.
The charges state that the two teenagers allegedly attacked Amen while concealing their faces with masks, wielding a frying pan and a sword or similar object on Glenfarg Street and Clarendon Street. They reportedly pursued Amen, striking him with the sword, resulting in fatal injuries. The accused minors, whose identities are protected due to their age, have denied the accusations. The 16-year-old has raised a defense based on self-defense.
During the trial, Iain McSporran KC, representing the 17-year-old, emphasized that his client cooperated with the police investigation following Amen’s demise. McSporran urged the jury to clear his client, asserting his innocence and arguing against the prosecution’s claims. He highlighted that there was no evidence linking his client to a criminal collaboration with the co-accused 16-year-old. Additionally, he pointed out that Amen had actively sought out the first accused on the day of the incident.
The defense lawyer noted that while Amen was reportedly armed with a “cutlass” or a “pirate sword,” the 17-year-old did not engage in the ensuing violence. McSporran stressed to the jurors that the verdict should not be influenced by sympathy but rather by the evidence presented. The trial is being conducted at the High Court in Glasgow before Lord Colbeck.
