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Two young people have been acquitted of the charge of killing 15-year-old Amen Teklay, who passed away inGlasgowlast year following a sword attack.

Amen was discovered with severe injuries on Clarendon Street, Maryhill, during the evening of March 5 last year and passed away at the location.

Two young people, 16 and 17 years old, appeared in the High Court in Glasgow facing charges of killing a 15-year-old during a sword-related incident.

They both denied committing the murder, with the 16-year-old presenting a specific argument of self-defense.

On the second day of their discussions, the jury reached a decision of not guilty for both young individuals.

The murder charge claimed that two teenage boys, wearing face coverings, attacked Amen and held up a frying pan and a sword or something like it against him on Glenfarg Street and Clarendon Street on March 5 last year.

It was mentioned that Amen was attacked with a sword, resulting in severe injuries that led to his death.

A 16-year-old had acknowledged that he stabbed Amen, and the jury was instructed to determine whether he acted in self-defense or if he might have been incited.

Jurors were also instructed to evaluate if the second defendant, who is 17 years old, collaborated with the first individual.

In his final address on Friday, the defense attorney for the 17-year-old defendant stated that he felt ‘he had committed no wrongdoing’.

Lawyer Iain McSporran KC stated that the accused boy “did not touch Amen Teklay.”

He mentioned that on the day of the event, Amen had made a deliberate effort to locate the first defendant, and that Amen was carrying a weapon referred to as a “cutlass” or a “pirate sword.”

The 17-year-old was not involved in the subsequent violence, according to Mr McSporran.

The hearing was conducted in front of Lord Colbeck, who expressed gratitude to the jury for their work before releasing them.

The family of Amen, who were present in the public gallery, appeared deeply moved following the announcement of the not guilty verdict.

A message from Amen’s family was shared outside the High Court by Jamie O’Neill, a community development officer with Kingsway Community Connections, an organization that had assisted Amen and his family before his passing.

The statement mentioned: ‘Clearly, the family are still dealing with the court’s ruling and it’s not a decision they anticipated or desired.’

Today holds significant and heartfelt importance for Amen’s family, his friends, and all who were familiar with him.

Our thoughts are with Amen’s family, and no court proceedings can erase the sorrow of losing a child. They are still very much on our minds this afternoon.

‘Amen went beyond the situation of his passing. He was a young individual who was recognized, appreciated, and loved by many.

His absence has been profoundly felt not only by those nearest to him but also by individuals throughout our community.

Since Amen’s passing, we have witnessed the finest aspects of humanity as individuals have united to assist each other during an extremely challenging period.

We have also witnessed the fear, sorrow, and uncertainty that violence leaves in its wake.

Its effects extend well beyond the individuals directly involved, resonating with families, friends, neighbors, and young people throughout our nation.

We hope that today inspires more individuals to consider what can be done to ensure that fewer young people, fewer families, and fewer communities face such a loss.

The court was informed that the 16-year-old and Amen initially met at Kelvinhall subway station during the summer of 2024.

Jurors were informed that Amen is accused of stealing drugs from a 16-year-old and another young person at knifepoint.

This was reported to have triggered a series of retaliatory events between the two until the evening of Amen’s passing.

In the days before the claimed murder, the 16-year-old reportedly sent a message to a friend stating: “Let’s get a whip and kill these men.”

He also appeared in three social media videos using a red-bladed weapon he bought online in January 2025 for £40.

On the evening of Amen’s passing, the 16-year-old, the 17-year-old, and their friends were engaged in a game of football at the pitches located in the Maryhill district of Glasgow.

It was reported that they subsequently got a phone call from a friend who told them that Amen was “looking” for the 16-year-old and another young person who was not involved in the trial.

As the night continued, the 16 and 17-year-old defendants were by themselves when they encountered Amen.

At the trial, a witness informed the court that he observed one of the individuals “holding a knife that resembled a sword” and that he subsequently heard a “scream.”

Another witness, delivery driver David Miller, informed the jury: “They appeared to be attempting to punch one another, but I didn’t observe any weapons because it was dark.”

Mr. Miller, 56, stated he witnessed someone ‘running’ and ‘falling’ with blood on the ground. He called 999 to report the event.

Amen received initial treatment on the spot before being transported to the hospital, where he was declared deceased that evening.

A forensic analysis determined that the cause of death was a ‘stab wound to the chest caused by a blade approximately 19 or 20 centimeters long.’

The blade pierced Amen’s chest on the left side, at the level of the nipple. The sword went through cartilage, the heart, muscles, and the right lung before exiting the body, creating a back wound that was one-and-a-half centimetres long.

Prosecutor Adrian Stalker mentioned that this led to ‘rapid blood loss’ and was ‘unsurvivable.’

A ‘zombie machete’ was found beneath Amen’s body, which was not the weapon used to kill him.

During the trial, the 17-year-old mentioned that following the event, he took a bus to his friend’s house in Gallowgate, located in the city, and remained there for two nights.

The 16-year-old subsequently discarded his blood-stained jogging pants and rode his electric scooter to Kelvingrove Park, where he stated he kicked the knife close to a river.

Jurors were informed that the boy conducted several online searches on his phone the following day.

These included: ‘Glasgow stabbing’, ’14-year-old murder UK’, ‘Murder charge sentence UK’ and ‘Where first offenders under 18 are sent for serious crimes UK.’

Another search indicated: ‘Amen Glasgow evidence.’

It was mentioned that the phone also contained records of searches on the social media app TikTok, which included ‘Amen Glasgow’.

The phone’s browsing history also included a series of news sites covering the event.

The search history also showed a website with the title: ‘Is it legal to stab someone in self-defense?’

Jurors were informed at the start of the trial that the 16-year-old boy presented a unique argument of self-defense.

He stated in his testimony to the court that Amen, carrying a knife, ‘leaped’ out from close to a vehicle toward them.

The 16-year-old mentioned that he and Amen both used knives against each other, with the 17-year-old staying somewhat behind them.

He stated that Amen focused on the 17-year-old, who was holding a frying pan, and ‘believed he was about to be stabbed.’

The boy said he informed Amen that the 17-year-old was “unrelated to this.”

He said, “Amen spun 180 degrees in my direction. He definitely had the knife raised as he was chasing the 17-year-old. He did a 180 and faced me. He still had the knife up.”

I used my knife to pierce him.

When questioned by his legal representative regarding the three social media videos featuring him with the weapon used in the murder, the 16-year-old admitted he was “trying to create a persona” and called it “very foolish.”

Amen resided in Glasgow alongside his father, although he originally hailed from Eritrea,

A ceremony was conducted in Glasgow’s Kinning Park Parish Church to honor the young student following his passing, with his remains transported to Ethiopia for a complete funeral.

Delina, Amen’s sister, stated: “Amen’s passing has been extremely difficult for our family. The effect it has had on us, particularly on me, is hard to express in words.”

My sibling’s passing has deeply affected our lives. There’s no way things will ever be the same for us again.

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