Teenagers sentenced for murdering 16-year-old boy in beach knife attack

Three teenagers have been handed life sentences for murdering a 16-year-old boy in a fatal stabbing on a Scottish beach.

Apprentice painter and decorator Kayden Moy was attacked at Irvine Beach in North Ayrshire on 17 May 2025.

Jay Stewart, 19, Cole Turley, 18, and a 15-year-old boy - who cannot be named due to his age - acted together to carry out the attack.

Turley earlier admitted to the killing, while Stewart and the 15-year-old were found guilty of murder last month following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

All three had been members of the Murray Boys group, while Kayden and others were part of the Himshie gang in East Kilbride.

On Tuesday, judge Lord Scott imposed life sentences, handing both Stewart and Turley a minimum of 16 years in detention, and the 15-year-old a minimum of 14 years.

The judge told the trio they had gone to the beach that day with the intention of carrying out an attack.

He said: "Two of you took weapons including, in the case of Cole Turley, the knife with which Kayden Moy was stabbed."

Lord Scott added: "You didn't care whether Kayden lived or died."

Speaking outside court, Kayden's father Paul Moy said his son "had his whole life ahead of him".

He added: "Every birthday, every family gathering, every milestone from now on will be a reminder that he should be here with us.

"That is the life sentence our family has been given. The choices made that day have devastated our family forever.

"We hope today's sentence sends a clear message that violence has devastating and irreversible consequences.

"One moment of violence has destroyed so many lives, and no family should ever have to endure the pain that we now live with every day."

He thanked the police and prosecutors, along with everyone who has provided support.

Mr Moy said: "Most importantly, we want people to remember Kayden not for how he died, but for how he lived.

"He will always be our son. He will always be loved. He will always be missed.

"His name will never be forgotten, and we will continue to speak for him the rest of our lives."

During the trial, jurors heard that shortly before the attack Turley, Stewart, and the 15-year-old had been at the top of a sand dune throwing rocks at people on the beach.

One witness told of how he had gone with Kayden to confront the teenagers, and that as they reached the top of the dune, Turley brought out a knife and Stewart an extendable baton.

The witness said: "Then out of nowhere Cole [Turley] just started running at us. I ran to the right, so did Kayden.

"I jumped over a grass ledge, Kayden slipped and Cole leaped over and jumped on him. He had a knife and it hit. I saw one stab."

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said medics battled to save Kayden on the beach.

He was taken to University Hospital Crosshouse, but succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of the morning.

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Moira Orr, who leads on homicide for COPFS, said: "The three accused, all teenagers, made themselves potential murderers the moment they armed themselves with at least one knife.

"And murderers they became. One of them - Cole Turley - struck the fatal blow but prosecutors proved that all three were part of the planning and execution of the crime.

"They are all guilty and all now have been convicted of murder. It is difficult to adequately express the devastation caused by their decision to carry a bladed weapon.

"A young life ended by knife crime, a family left in agony, teenage friends and witnesses traumatised and a community damaged.

"COPFS will do all we can to ensure those responsible for knife crime are held to account."

(c) Sky News 2026: Teenagers sentenced for murdering 16-year-old boy in beach knife attack