Schoolboy 'possibly exploited' into drug dealing, murder trial told

A schoolboy allegedly murdered by two teenagers was possibly exploited into selling drugs, a trial has heard.

Prosecutors claim Amen Teklay was chased and attacked by the two, aged 16 and 17 - who cannot be named due to their age - before being stabbed to death with a sword on Glasgow's Clarendon Street in March 2025.

A worker with the charity Action for Children, which supports young people who are victims of exploitation, told jurors that Amen was referred to the service five or six months before his death.

Niamh Gribben, 28, said there were concerns the 15-year-old had been exploited into dealing drugs in the community around his school in the Knightswood area.

Gribben told jurors she met with Amen on a weekly basis and was trying to "build a relationship" with him, but concerns continued he was still dealing drugs.

She also said there was believed to be an ongoing feud between Amen and the 16-year-old accused of the killing.

The witness later said Amen hung about with a group who others called the Kingsway Boys - named after the block of flats of the same name.

Jurors previously watched footage of Amen being attacked by three youths, which allegedly included the 16-year-old on trial, on 12 February 2025 - less than a month before his death.

Gribben said she was in the area that day to meet Amen and saw "panic" on his face before the attack took place on Great Western Road.

The witness said she was involved in getting Amen away from the scene and that he had suffered a bloody lip and a swollen nose.

Brian McConnachie KC, defending the 16-year-old, put it to the witness that Amen was "still dealing drugs" and she replied that was correct.

The witness recalled the first name of the 16-year-old had been said during the Great Western Road attack.

McConnachie asked if someone with the teenager's name had also been referred to her service and she replied that he had been, with his referral then pulled by social work.

The witness followed up to say it was believed the 16-year-old was also being exploited.

Amen is said to have been assaulted by the two teenagers in the St George's Cross area of Glasgow on 5 March 2025.

Prosecutors claim the boys brandished a sword and frying pan at Amen, and then chased him.

The charge states he was struck with the sword and left so severely hurt that he died on Clarendon Street.

Amen lived in Glasgow with his father, but was originally from Eritrea.

Det Con Michelle McLeod, 49, told jurors she arrested a third youth - who is 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, where he was heard to say that he had been with the two accused playing football that night.

The boy said that he said his goodbyes and went home, and that he did not witness anything.

He claimed that his video doorbell had him arrive home at 22:19, while the murder was said to have taken place about 22:15.

The jury were shown crime scene photographs and footage of the two accused on the night of the murder.

At around 22:15 the 16 and 17-year-old were identified as being together outside a garage in Maryhill.

Two minutes later, footage from the same area showed the 17-year-old running from the direction of Clarendon Street towards St George's Road.

He then appeared to throw something over a wall, before the 16-year-old then appeared to come into view on an e-scooter, going in the same direction.

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.

The trial continues before Judge Lord Colbeck.