Prosecution Urges Conviction of Two Teenagers for Irvine Beach Murder
A jury has been urged to convict two teenagers of murdering 16-year-old Kayden Moy on Irvine Beach in May 2025.
A 15-year-old boy, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, and Jay Stewart, 18, stand accused of killing Moy on 17 May 2025. Cole Turley, 18, pleaded guilty to the murder before the trial commenced at the High Court in Glasgow.
Prosecutor Liam Ewing KC stated that the trio "did what they came to do" after Moy was fatally stabbed.
He explained that the group had travelled to the beach seeking retribution for a prior incident involving Moy, who was affiliated with a different gang than Stewart, Turley, and the unnamed teenager.
The charge alleges that Stewart and the 15-year-old, acting in concert with Turley, pursued Moy, causing him to fall before repeatedly stabbing him.
It is further alleged that Stewart and the other teenager harbored prior ill-will and malice toward Moy.
The prosecution withdrew all charges except the murder allegation against Stewart and the 15-year-old.
The trial has revealed that Turley, Stewart, and the 15-year-old were members of the Murray Boys gang from East Kilbride in South Lanarkshire.
Moy and his associates were identified as members of the rival Himshie gang.
Ewing noted that Stewart had previously threatened Moy with violence on social media before the attack.
The advocate depute described how Stewart and the 15-year-old travelled with Turley to the beach after learning that a 17-year-old associate had been involved in a fight with a member of Moy's group earlier that day.
"The rocks don't appear to have struck anyone - it was an exercise to flush out the Himshie group to invoke a reaction and it did so."
During the confrontation, Stewart was observed "jumping back and forward" and appeared "ready for a fight."
He reportedly looked at Moy "aggressively" after Turley stabbed him and said Moy deserved it.
Footage was presented showing the three running down a road minutes after the attack.
The advocate depute stated that the accused were seen shaking hands with Turley and embracing him.
The three teenagers then took a taxi from Irvine back to East Kilbride, subsequently entering the home of 19-year-old Fraser Wallace, a friend of Turley.
Ewing claimed that Stewart, the 15-year-old, and Turley asked Wallace if Moy had died.
Upon learning that Moy was still alive at that time, the group began singing a song about him with lyrics including "Kayden bop," while Stewart and the 15-year-old touched their stomach and leg.
There was also mention of the victim being "cheffed up."
Evidence of Weapon Transfer and Intent
Ewing referred to Wallace's testimony that the 15-year-old told him he passed the lock back knife used in the murder to Turley before the stabbing.
Jurors heard that no identifiable DNA from the 15-year-old was found on the knife during analysis.
The prosecutor asked the jury:
"Why did they travel to that place at that time and with weapons? The two boys and Cole Turley went for the purposes of retaliation or retribution for that [earlier] incident. You should conclude that they went to engage in a violent confrontation with that group."
Ewing emphasized that the defendants acted together with Turley in committing the murder, supported by credible and reliable evidence.
"The evidence establishes that there was a common criminal purpose and there was scope in the use of violence to cause serious injury and with that carried an obvious risk to life."
Defense Speeches and Trial Continuation
Donald Findlay KC, representing Stewart, and Ian Duguid KC, defending the 15-year-old, are scheduled to present their speeches to the jury the following day.
The trial is ongoing before Judge Lord Scott.
