A teenage boy accused of murdering a school pupil in a street stabbing in Glasgow has told the High Court that he acted out of self-defence after fearing for his own life. The 16-year-old, who cannot be named due to legal restrictions, claimed that Amen Teklay, 15, had charged at him and his friend with a knife on Clarendon Street on March 5th 2025.
The incident is said to have been linked to an ongoing feud between rival groups in the city. Prosecutors have revealed that there were previous altercations between the two gangs, which escalated into violent confrontations. Footage of these incidents was presented to the jury as part of the evidence against the accused teenager.
During his testimony, the defendant described how he had bought a red-bladed sword for £40 online in January 2025. He claimed that he was trying to 'build a persona' by posting videos on social media, but now regards this behaviour as 'very stupid' and regrettable.
The accused teenager recounted the events of the night Amen Teklay died, stating that he received a warning phone call before the incident. He claimed that Amen had jumped out from behind a parked car on Clarendon Street, armed with a knife, and both teenagers began circling each other while wielding their blades.
The defendant alleged that Amen then spotted his 17-year-old friend holding a frying pan further back in the street, leading him to fear for this friend's safety. He claimed that he stabbed Amen with the sword when Amen turned back towards him, and that Amen subsequently ran away bleeding heavily.
After the stabbing, the accused described himself as being 'in a state of panic' and 'very scared'. He admitted to disposing of blood-stained clothing and hiding the alleged murder weapon near a river in Kelvingrove Park. The teenager told the court that he only discovered Amen's death after conducting an internet search the following day.
The trial, presided over by Judge Lord Colbeck at the High Court in Glasgow, continues with the defence for the 17-year-old co-accused also questioning the teenage defendant about his interactions with Amen Teklay on the night of the incident.