Two teenagers have been found not guilty of the murder of 15-year-old Amen Teklay, who died in Glasgow last year after being struck by a sword.
Incident Details
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, have been on 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. Jurors have now returned a verdict of not guilty.
Court Proceedings
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 5 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.
Defence Arguments
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". The trial took place before Lord Colbeck.
