Full Breakdown
Murder of Kayden Moy at Irvine Beach: Trial, Convictions and Community Impact
6/5/2026, 11:18:36 PM
The Fatal Attack on Irvine Beach
On 17 May 2025, 16-year-old Kayden Moy was stabbed repeatedly on Irvine Beach, North Ayrshire, after a confrontation between rival youth gangs. The assault was carried out by three members of the Murray Boys gang from East Kilbride: 18-year-old Jay Stewart, 18-year-old Cole Turley and a 15-year-old whose name is protected by law. Turley had pleaded guilty to murder before the trial began; Stewart and the 15-year-old were later found guilty of murder by a Glasgow High Court jury. Moy died in hospital later that night.
Rival Gangs and Prior Tensions
The Murray Boys and the Himshie group, to which Moy belonged, have a history of clashes in East Kilbride. Earlier on the day of the attack, a fight between the groups erupted on the beach. Stewart posted a threatening message to a Himshie member: “I will rip wee Kayden’s lungs out of him. Yous are f***ing grasses…stop acting bold.” Prosecutors said the earlier rock-throwing was intended to draw the Himshie members into a fight.
Key Figures
- Kayden Moy – 16-year-old victim, unarmed at the time of the attack.
- Jay Stewart – 18, previously subject to a community payback order for possession of a machete and a breach-of-peace conviction.
- Cole Turley – 18, pleaded guilty to murder before the trial.
- Unnamed 15-year-old – Charged alongside Stewart; name withheld for legal reasons.
- Fraser Wallace – 19-year-old friend of Turley who housed the trio after the attack and testified for the Crown.
Timeline
- 17 May 2025 – Rock-throwing, confrontation and stabbing; Moy dies that night.
- 5 June 2025 – Jury returns guilty verdicts for Stewart and the 15-year-old; Turley already sentenced.
- 21 July 2025 – Sentencing of all three teenagers scheduled.
- 2024-2025 – Operation Stardrop runs diversionary programmes for at-risk youth.
Data & Statistics
- Three teenagers were charged; two were convicted of murder.
- Police recorded statements from more than 600 witnesses, 240 of which were logged as formal statements.
- Forensic analysis found no DNA from Stewart or the 15-year-old on the lock-back knife used in the stabbing.
- Stewart had two prior convictions; the 15-year-old had no previous record.
Why It Matters
The case underscores the lethal potential of knife-related gang violence in Scotland and prompted renewed police emphasis on youth-targeted interventions. Detectives highlighted that “Kayden’s death highlights the devastating impact of knife crime, not only on individuals, but for families and our wider communities.”
Official Statements & Responses
Detective Chief Inspector Campbell Jackson said the verdict “will never compensate for Kayden’s death; it won’t ease the heartache his family and friends must feel every single day.” Prosecutor Liam Ewing KC described the trio’s conduct as “the actions of those who have accomplished what they came to do.” Judge Lord Scott instructed jurors that the central issue was whether Stewart and the 15-year-old acted in concert with Turley. Kayden’s parents, Paul and Ashley Moy, called their son “an amazing, caring boy who lit up every room.” Operation Stardrop was cited as a response to the broader problem of youth violence.
Criticism & Opposition
Defence counsel Donald Findlay KC argued there is “not a scrap of evidence that Jay Stewart placed a finger on Kayden Moy,” emphasizing the absence of DNA and the lack of a weapon on Stewart. Ian Duguid KC, representing the 15-year-old, maintained his client expected only a fist-fight, stating “He was not thinking it was going to be a stabbing.” The defence also challenged the credibility of Fraser Wallace, alleging false testimony.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The jury unanimously convicted Stewart but was divided on the 15-year-old, reflecting uncertainty about their joint participation. Prosecutors asserted coordinated intent, while forensic evidence showed no trace of the younger defendants on the knife. The Crown’s narrative of a pre-planned assault contrasts with the defence’s claim of an isolated act by Turley.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I will rip wee Kayden’s lungs out of him. Yous are f*ing grasses…stop acting bold.” — Jay Stewart**, social-media message
- “Mr Findlay stated that there was not a "nanogram" of Stewart’s DNA on the murder weapon.” — Donald Findlay KC, defence counsel
- “He was not thinking it was going to be a stabbing. He was thinking it was going to be a fist-fight, the Murrays against the Himshies, something that was not unknown to any of them.” — Ian Duguid KC, representing the 15-year-old
- “those were the actions of those who have accomplished what they came to do” — Liam Ewing KC, prosecutor
- “Detective Chief Inspector Campbell Jackson, senior investigating officer, said: “My thoughts very much remain with Kayden’s family for their devastating loss.” — Detective Chief Inspector Campbell Jackson
- “We will never hear his laugh again, never see his smile, never watch him achieve the goals he worked so hard for.” — Paul Moy, father
What’s Next
Sentencing for Stewart, Turley and the 15-year-old is set for 21 July 2025. Police and community partners will continue Operation Stardrop to address the root causes of youth violence and to provide diversionary support for at-risk children.
