Teen Witness Describes Fatal Stabbing of Boyfriend at Irvine Beach
A 19-year-old woman has testified at a murder trial about witnessing her boyfriend's body "turning white" after he was fatally stabbed.
Keryn Knox recounted that she had been drinking with her partner, Kayden Moy, and friends at Irvine Beach on 17 May last year when the attack occurred.
Jay Stewart, 18, and a 15-year-old boy are charged, along with acting with 18-year-old Cole Turley, with pursuing Kayden, causing him to fall, and repeatedly stabbing him.
Turley pleaded guilty to the murder charge before the trial began, while Stewart and the 15-year-old have lodged a special defence of incrimination against Turley.
The High Court in Glasgow heard testimony from Kayden's friend Jay McGarry, 18, and his girlfriend Keryn Knox, 19, both of whom claimed to have witnessed Turley stab Kayden twice.
An emotional Knox described her partner's physical decline after the attack, saying his body "turned white" and his lips became blue.
She also stated that Stewart, Turley, and the 15-year-old threw rocks at them as they attempted to leave the scene.
Knox said that Kayden had approached the sand dune alone where the trio were gathered, noting that Turley was not initially present.
She described hearing shouting and seeing Stewart "bouncing back and forth as if he was going to go for Kayden."
When questioned by prosecutor Liam Ewing KC about what happened next, Knox replied:
"Cole Turley ran from Kayden's left side. Kayden saw a weapon - a blade - and when he tried to turn around, he slipped and when he tried to get back up, Cole stabbed him to the left lower side twice. After that, Kayden got up and I think he realised what happened and he ran down to the beach."
The witnesses stated that Turley and the two others then left the scene.
Regarding events at the beach, Knox said:
"Kayden was on the floor. His body turned completely white and his lips were blue. People were crowding around him, trying to put his T-shirt on the wound."
Jurors were informed that elderly bystanders assisted Kayden before an air ambulance arrived.
Weapons Described in Court
Later that afternoon, Knox told the court that Stewart had an extendable baton and a "butcher's-style knife" when she first encountered him.
She added that Turley also possessed a kitchen knife with a blade showing "white blotches."
The prosecutor read from a police statement given by Knox, which said Kayden had picked up a glass bottle of cherry Sourz.
The statement included:
"Cole Turley ran from the side and swung his arm up and Kayden threw the bottle to the side. It didn't hit anyone and he ran back in the direction he came from."
Knox denied that Kayden had a bottle and explained that she had been "very emotional" when giving the statement.
She said Stewart shouted "Himshie's on the floor" as he left the scene.
Jurors had previously been told that Kayden and his group were members of the Himshie gang in East Kilbride, while the accused youths belonged to the Murray Boys gang from the same town.
When asked who was "on the floor," Knox replied:
"Kayden."
Donald Findlay KC, defending Stewart, suggested Knox obtained information about Stewart carrying a knife from social media, to which she replied:
"Yes."
Knox later told the prosecutor that information regarding Kayden and the bottle also came from social media.
Additional Testimony from Kayden's Friend
The court also heard from Kayden's friend Jay McGarry, who also goes by the name Mooney, through pre-recorded police interview and live evidence.
McGarry stated he received a message on Instagram from Stewart in "March or April" 2025, which included the threat:
"I will rip wee Kayden's lungs out of him."
McGarry had previously told jurors he was with Kayden before the attack at Irvine Beach.
He said he ran from the beach after rocks were thrown at his group but did not know who threw them.
McGarry said he had no contact with Stewart, Turley, or the 15-year-old after the incident.
Stewart and the 15-year-old also face additional charges including attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The trial is ongoing before Judge Lord Scott.
