The defence lawyer for a 17-year-old accused of murdering 15-year-old Amen Teklay in Glasgow has told jurors his client “did not lay a finger” on the victim, urging an acquittal in the closing speech on Friday. The teenager is one of two boys, aged 16 and 17, on trial at the High Court in Glasgow for the fatal sword attack that occurred on March 5 last year.
Details of the Incident
Amen Teklay was found seriously injured on Clarendon Street in the Maryhill area of Glasgow on the evening of March 5 and died at the scene. The murder charge alleges that the two teenagers, with their faces masked, assaulted Amen, brandishing a frying pan and a sword or similar instrument. They are accused of chasing him and striking him on the body with the sword, causing injuries so severe that he died. Both teenagers deny the charge, and the 16-year-old has lodged a special defence of self-defence.
Defence Lawyer's Argument
Iain McSporran KC, representing the 17-year-old, addressed jurors for about an hour on Friday. He stated that his client had assisted police with their investigation and spoke at length to detectives in the days after Amen’s death. “As far as he was concerned, he had done nothing wrong,” McSporran said. The lawyer argued that prosecutors had overreached by charging his client, emphasising that the 17-year-old “was not involved in any feud or drug dealing or gang”.
McSporran said his client had enough knowledge to be “wary” of Amen but wished him no harm. “He did not lay a finger on Amen Teklay and the prosecution do not say otherwise,” he told the court. The lawyer highlighted a lack of evidence to convict his client on the basis of a common criminal enterprise with the first accused.
Victim's Actions on the Day
McSporran noted that on the day of the incident, Amen Teklay had “gone out of his way” to find the first accused and was armed with a weapon described as a “cutlass” or a “pirate sword”. The 17-year-old did not participate in the subsequent violence, according to the defence. “I have no doubt that (Amen’s) family loves him and misses him,” McSporran told jurors, adding, “By your verdict you cannot restore Amen Teklay to his family… Sympathy plays no part in the verdict process.”
Trial Proceedings
The trial, presided over by Lord Colbeck at the High Court in Glasgow, continues. The two teenagers cannot be named due to their age. The prosecution has not yet presented its closing argument. The jury will be asked to deliver a verdict after hearing all evidence and legal submissions.
