Murder-accused teen claims victim was 'going to stab friend'

A teenager accused of murdering a 15-year-old boy with a sword has told a trial he stabbed him as he believed his own friend was about to be attacked.

The 16-year-old, who has lodged a special defence of self-defence at the High Court in Glasgow, said Amen Teklay ran towards his 17-year-old friend with a knife.

The accused said he shouted at Amen then stabbed him when he turned around, before panicking at what had happened. Amen died from his injuries.

The boys, who were aged 14 and 15 at the time, are alleged to have attacked Amen Teklay in Glasgow's St George's Cross area on 5 March 2025, before chasing him and stabbing him with a sword.

The trial heard that the three boys were part of rival gangs that were involved in a feud after Amen's group stole cannabis from the others.

The row included physical violence and brandishing knives, with footage of previous incidents shown to jurors.

The accused told the court that he purchased the alleged murder weapon - a red bladed sword-like weapon - for £40 online in January 2025.

The boy's defence KC, Brian McConnachie, asked the boy about social media videos shown to the jury taken before the murder, where he was seen holding the blade.

The accused said was "trying to build a persona" and added: "It was ridiculous, I was 14 - I didn't know.

"I look back now and I was very stupid. I don't know why I did that stuff."

The court heard that on the night of Amen's death, the boy received a phone call telling him that Amen had a knife and was looking for him and his friend.

The boy stated that he ended up alone with the 17-year-old co-accused on Clarendon Street.

It was claimed that Amen "jumped out" from behind a parked car with a knife.

The boy stated that he took out his own blade, then both of them were swinging them while circling each other.

The jury was told that the 17-year-old boy was further back, holding a frying pan.

It was claimed that Amen insulted the accused, who replied: "It's Ramadan we don't need to do this."

The teen said that Amen then noticed his friend with the frying pan behind him, and he feared he was going to stab him.

He said Amen then turned back towards him, at which point he stabbed him with the sword, before Amen ran away while bleeding heavily.

The accused said he was "panicking and just scared". He removed blood-stained jogging bottoms and threw them over a wall.

He told the court he was not aware that Amen had collapsed on Clarendon Street.

He said he later visited the city's Kelvingrove Park where he kicked the alleged murder weapon near to a river.

The trial was previously told that the accused had carried out an internet search of Amen and the incident on the day following the events.

He said: "I knew he was badly injured. I had no idea that he died."

Iain McSporran KC, defending the 17-year-old, asked the boy if he had told Amen to "leave" his own client alone because he had "nothing to do with this".

He replied: "Yes."

The trial at the High Court in Glasgow continues before Judge Lord Colbeck.