Teenagers found guilty of murdering 16-year-old Kayden Moy

Police Scotland

Two teenagers have been found guilty of murdering a 16-year-old boy after a row between rival groups on a beach in Ayrshire last year.

Jay Stewart, 18, and a 15-year-old, who can’t be named for legal reasons, stabbed Kayden Moy on Irvine Beach on 17 May 2025.

A third teenager, 18-year-old Cole Turley, had pleaded guilty to the murder before the trial began at the High Court in Glasgow.

The trio were members of the Murray Boys gang from East Kilbride, while Moy was a member of the rival Himshie group, who had clashed earlier that day.

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Stewart and the 15-year-old, while acting with Turley, chased Moy and caused him to fall to the ground before they repeatedly stabbed him.

The jury unanimously found Stewart guilty, but were divided on the 15-year-old.

Moy’s family was emotional as the verdicts were read out in court.

The trial heard how the trio had travelled to the beach after an earlier fight between the rival groups that day.

They were said to hold ill-will towards Moy, including Stewart sending threats on social media.

They threw rocks at Moy and his friends – which prosecutors said was intended to draw them into a confrontation – while Stewart was armed with an extendable baton.

The court heard that he tried to run away after he noticed the weapons, but slipped, and was then stabbed by Turley. He died in hospital that night.

Stewart and the 15-year-old were accused of acting alongside Turley. The three were seen on CCTV hugging and shaking hands minutes after the attack.

Prosecutor Liam Ewing KC told the jury ‘those were the actions of those who have accomplished what they came to do’.

After the stabbing, which led to scenes of chaos on the beach, the trio took a taxi back to East Kilbride, before entering the home of 19-year-old Fraser Wallace, who was friendly with Turley.

Wallace gave evidence during the trial, saying he was told by the 15-year-old that he had passed the murder weapon – a lockback knife – to Turley before the stabbing.

Prosecution makes closing argument in Kayden Moy murder case