A trial has heard that a schoolboy allegedly murdered by two teenagers may have been exploited into selling drugs. Amen Teklay, 15, is said to have been assaulted by a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old in the St George’s Cross area of Glasgow on March 5 2025.
Attack Details
Prosecutors claim the boys, who cannot be identified due to their age, brandished a sword and a frying pan at Amen while both were masked. It is said that Amen, who lived in the city with his father but was originally from Eritrea, was chased. The charge states that he was struck with the sword and left so severely hurt that he died on Clarendon Street.
Exploitation Concerns
Niamh Gribben, 28, a residential worker for the charity Action for Children, told jurors that Amen was referred to the Side Step service, which supports young people who are victims of exploitation, five or six months before his death. She said: 'There were concerns he was exploited into dealing drugs in the community around his school.' This was stated to be in Glasgow’s Knightswood area.
Miss Gribben met with Amen weekly. Prosecutor Adrian Stalker asked if Amen continued to deal drugs in following months. She replied: 'There were concerns he was continuing to be involved in drug dealing. Working with young people it takes time to get to that level of work we are trying to do. We are trying to build a relationship.'
Previous Attack
Jurors had previously watched footage of Amen being attacked by three youths, including the 16-year-old on trial, on February 12 2025. Miss Gribben stated she was in the area to meet Amen and saw 'panic' on his face before the attack on Great Western Road. She helped get Amen away from the scene, and he suffered a bloody lip and a swollen nose.
Her last communication with Amen was two days before his death when he texted that he was 'chilling'. Brian McConnachie KC, defending the 16-year-old, put it to the witness that Amen was 'still dealing drugs.' She replied: 'Yes.'
Witness Testimony
The witness recalled the first name of the 16-year-old had been mentioned during the attack on Amen. Mr McConnachie asked if someone with that name had also been referred to her service, and she replied: 'Yes and his referral was pulled by social work.' She added: 'It was believed he was also exploited.' When asked if there was an ongoing feud, Miss Gribben replied: 'Yes.'
Detective Constable Michelle McLeod, 49, told jurors that she arrested a third youth, now 16, two days after Amen’s death on suspicion of murder, breach of the peace, assault, and possession of an offensive weapon. Part of the boy’s police interview was played to the jury. He said he had been with his friends, the 17-year-old and the 16-year-old who went to the same school, to play football that night. He claimed he said his goodbyes and went home, with his video doorbell showing him arriving home at 10.19pm. He said: 'I wasn’t present when anything took place - I didn’t witness anything that happened.' The murder took place 'roughly' around 10.15pm.
Crime Scene and CCTV Evidence
Detective Inspector Steven Greenshields, 35, took jurors through crime scene photographs, including a tent placed over Amen’s body on the pavement. Jurors were shown CCTV clips from the day of Amen’s death, starting with the 16-year-old's actions. Detective Sergeant Jenniffer Piggott, 35, described how the 16-year-old took an electric scooter down stairs and put it against the entrance door, then bent down to post boxes and made an action at his right side.
Later footage at the Firhill Complex in Maryhill showed the 16-year-old as one of six youths. At around 10.15pm, the 16 and 17-year-olds on trial were seen together outside GA Mann garage in Maryhill, with the 16-year-old on an electric scooter. Two minutes later, footage showed the 17-year-old 'running' from Clarendon Street towards St Georges Road, with something 'glowing' on his person. DS Piggott added: 'We can see a movement, his hand goes up and appears throw something over the wall.' The 16-year-old then appeared on an e-scooter going in the same direction.
In later footage, the 16-year-old was seen in shorts, having been in light-coloured trousers earlier. He was then seen without the scooter and 'slowed down a bit' near the wall. The 17-year-old was picked up by bus footage entering a double decker from St George’s Road to the Gallowgate area. Meanwhile, an ambulance was seen heading in the direction from which both teens had come. The 16-year-old was seen on CCTV entering the foyer of his flat at 10.37pm, then running back out with his barefooted father behind him.
Defence and Charges
The 16-year-old accused also faces an allegation of attempting to defeat the ends of justice. A special defence of self-defence has been lodged by the 16-year-old boy. The trial continues before Judge Lord Colbeck.
