The murder trial of two teenagers accused of killing 15-year-old Amen Teklay in a sword attack in Glasgow has heard that one of the accused "did not lay a finger" on the victim. Iain McSporran KC, representing the 17-year-old defendant, told the jury at the High Court in Glasgow that his client was not involved in any violence and had assisted police with their investigation.
Incident Details
Amen Teklay was found seriously injured on Clarendon Street in Maryhill, Glasgow, on the evening of March 5 last year. Despite paramedics' efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, are charged with murder, allegedly assaulting Amen with their faces masked while brandishing a frying pan and a sword or similar instrument on Glenfarg Street and Clarendon Street. They are accused of chasing Amen and striking him with the sword, causing fatal injuries.
Defence Argument
Both defendants deny the charge. The 16-year-old has lodged a special defence of self-defence. Addressing the jury for about an hour, Mr McSporran said his client "was not involved in any feud or drug dealing or gang" and had enough knowledge to be "wary" of Amen but wished him no harm. He stated: "He did not lay a finger on Amen Teklay and the prosecution do not say otherwise." The lawyer argued that prosecutors had overreached by charging his client and cited a lack of evidence for conviction based on a common criminal enterprise with the co-accused.
Victim's Actions
According to Mr McSporran, Amen had "gone out of his way" to find the 16-year-old on the day of the incident and was allegedly armed with a weapon described as a "cutlass" or "pirate sword". The 17-year-old did not participate in the subsequent violence, the lawyer said. He urged jurors to acquit, noting: "By your verdict you cannot restore Amen Teklay to his family… Sympathy plays no part in the verdict process." The trial continues before Lord Colbeck.
