Two teenagers have been found not guilty of murdering 15-year-old Amen Teklay, who died in Glasgow last year after being struck by a sword.
Amen was found seriously injured on Clarendon Street, Maryhill, on the evening of March 5 last year and died at the scene. The two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, stood trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of the murder, which they denied. The 16-year-old had lodged a special defence of self-defence.
Jurors returned a verdict of not guilty for both teenagers on their second day of deliberations. The murder charge had alleged that the two boys, with masked faces, assaulted Amen and brandished a frying pan and a sword or similar instrument at him on March 5 last year. The charge stated that Amen was struck on the body with the sword, causing injuries that led to his death.
The 16-year-old accepted stabbing Amen and the jury was asked to determine if he acted in self-defence or was provoked. The 17-year-old was accused of acting in concert with the first. The defense for the 17-year-old argued that his client did not participate in the violence and that Amen had been armed with a weapon described as a “cutlass” or a “pirate sword”.
Amen’s family, who were present in the public gallery, were visibly emotional after the verdict. A statement read outside the High Court by Jamie O'Neill, a community development worker, said the family was processing the decision, which was not expected or wanted. The statement emphasized that no court process could alleviate the pain of losing a child and that Amen was valued by many in the community.
The trial heard that the 16-year-old and Amen first met in summer 2024, and Amen allegedly robbed the 16-year-old of drugs at knifepoint. This incident reportedly led to a series of retaliatory events. In the days prior to Amen's death, the 16-year-old allegedly sent a text message planning to kill individuals and posted videos on social media with a red-bladed weapon purchased online.
On the night of the incident, the two teenagers on trial encountered Amen. A witness reported seeing one of the youths holding a knife resembling a sword, and later hearing a scream. Another witness, a delivery driver, saw someone running and then collapsing with blood on the pavement, prompting him to call emergency services.
A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death was a stab wound to the chest inflicted by a blade measuring 19 to 20 centimeters. A “zombie machete” was recovered from under Amen’s body, but it was not the weapon that caused his death.
During the trial, the 16-year-old testified that Amen, armed with a knife, emerged from near a car and attacked them. He stated that he and Amen both swung knives and that the 17-year-old was further back. He claimed Amen then turned towards the 17-year-old, who was holding a frying pan, and that he stabbed Amen in self-defence. The 16-year-old described his social media videos with the weapon as an attempt to “build a persona” and admitted it was “very stupid”.
Amen, originally from Eritrea, lived in Glasgow with his father. A memorial service was held for him in Glasgow, and his body was flown to Ethiopia for a funeral. His sister, Delina, stated that Amen’s death had devastated their lives and nothing would ever be the same.
Flowers were left on Clarendon Street last year following Amen's death. Tributes were also left in memory of Amen following a vigil in the city.