Teenagers found not guilty of murdering 15-year-old Amen Teklay in sword attack

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 5th last year and died at the scene.

The two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, stood trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of murdering the 15-year-old in a sword attack.

They had each denied the murder, with the 16-year-old lodging a special defence of self-defence.

On Monday, jurors returned a verdict of not guilty for both teenagers on their second day of deliberations.

The murder charge had alleged the two teenage boys, with their faces masked, assaulted Amen and brandished a frying pan and a sword or similar instrument at him at Glenfarg Street and Clarendon Street on March 5th last year.

It had said that Amen was struck on the body with the sword, leaving him so severely injured that he died.

The 16-year-old had accepted that he stabbed Amen and the jury was asked to decide if he acted in self-defence or if he may have been provoked.

Jurors were also asked to consider whether the second accused, who is 17, acted in concert with the first.

In his closing speech on Friday the defence KC for the 17-year-old accused said he believed “he had done nothing wrong”.

Lawyer Iain McSporran KC said the accused boy “did not lay a finger on Amen Teklay”.

He said that on the day of the incident, Amen Teklay had “gone out of his way” to find the first accused, and that Amen had been armed with a weapon described as a “cutlass” or a “pirate sword”.

The 17-year-old had not participated in the violence that followed, Mr McSporran said.

The trial took place before Lord Colbeck, who thanked the jurors for their service before discharging them.

Members of Amen’s family did not wish to comment as they left the court on Monday.

Jamie O’Neill, a community development worker at Kingsway Community Connections, which supported Amen before his death and has been supporting his family, agreed with them that he would read a statement outside the court.

He said: “Today is an important and emotional day for Amen’s family, his friends, and everyone who knew him. Our thoughts remain with Amen’s family.

“No court process can take away the pain of losing a child, and they remain very much in our thoughts this afternoon.

“Amen was more than the circumstances of his death. He was a young man who was known, value and cared about by so many, and his loss has been felt deeply, not only by those closest to him, but by people across our community.

“Since Amen’s death, we have seen the very best of people as they have come together to support one another through an incredibly difficult time.”

Amen was originally from Eritrea.

Mr O’Neill said: “In the coming months, Amen’s family will release details of a foundation that we will establish in Amen’s name.

“The foundation will be dedicated to supporting our community with a particular focus on young people and young men to follow positive paths and move away from violence that has affected so many young people across our country today.”

He said it is hoped that Amen’s legacy will be one of “compassion, opportunity, and positive change for future generations”.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are aware of the outcome of the court.

“Our thoughts remain with Amen’s family and friends.”