Teenager Amen Teklay stabbed through heart with sword, murder trial told

A 15-year-old boy allegedly murdered by two teenagers was stabbed through the heart with a sword, a trial has been told.

Amen Teklay is said to have been assaulted by the pair - aged 17 and 16 - in the St George's Cross area of Glasgow on 5 March last year.

Prosecutors claim the accused boys, who cannot be identified due to their age, brandished a sword and a frying pan at Teklay while both were masked.

The charges state Teklay - who lived in the city with his father but was originally from Eritrea - was chased before being struck with the sword and left so severely hurt that he died in Glasgow's Clarendon Street.

The 16-year-old accused also 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 also allegedly got rid of a bloodstained top at a close in the city's Charing Cross.

The boy is further said to have disposed of the sword.

The indictment states this was all done in a bid to avoid "detection, arrest and prosecution" for the alleged murder.

The killing is said to have occurred after earlier incidents involving the 16-year-old and Teklay.

Prosecutors allege the teenager teamed up with two other named boys to attack the 15-year-old in the city's Great Western Road on 12 February last year.

The charge includes claims he was repeatedly punched and kicked on the head and body.

A further accusation states the 16-year-old was "threatening and abusive" to Amen Teklay three days before the alleged murder by brandishing a sword and metal barrier at the youngster as well as shouting and swearing at him.

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

The trial at the High Court in Glasgow started with the reading of a joint minute of agreement.

Prosecutor Adrian Stalker told jurors that a post-mortem examination revealed that the cause of death was "stab wound to the chest inflicted by a blade measuring 19 or 20 centimetres in length."

The advocate stated that the blade entered the left side of Amen Teklay's chest at the level of the nipple area.

Stalker said: "It passed through cartilage, the heart, muscles and right lung before exiting the body causing a stab wound to the back which measure one-and-a-half centimetres in length."

It was stated that this resulted in "rapid blood loss" and was "unsurvivable."

DNA from Teklay was recovered from clothing worn by the 16-year-old as well as an e-scooter seized by police.

The 16-year-old was arrested by police on 7 March last year while the 17-year-old was arrested just over two weeks later, on 23 March.

Court evidence started with CCTV and mobile footage from February and March last year.

A clip appeared to show Amen Teklay being attacked by three other youths outside Chillos restaurant in the city's Great Western Road on 12 February 2025.

Mr Stalker asked witness Det Sgt Jennifer Piggott to identify one of the attackers and she stated that it was the 16-year-old on trial.

Another clip from 3 March last year appears to show Teklay and the 16-year-old "dulling for a fight" outside the Lismore Bar.

Det Sgt Piggott said: "The 16-year-old and Amen Teklay both have knives giving chase to each other.

"They appear to be squaring up to each other and Amen Teklay runs away."

Two hours later, footage from outside the 16-year-old's home appeared to show Amen and two others "chasing" him.

In several clips, the 16-year-old is alleged to be seen taking an item from postboxes at his flat entrance and placing it in his trousers.

The trial, before Judge Lord Colbeck, continues.