Three teens who stabbed boy, 16, to death after row broke out between rival groups on Ayrshire beach are jailed

Three teenage boys who stabbed a 16–year–old to death on a beach have been jailed.

Jay Steward, 19, Cole Turley, 18, and a 15–year–old – who cannot be named for legal reasons – were sentenced at Glasgow High Court this morning.

Turley and Stewart were both jailed for a minimum of 16 years while the third teenager was jailed for a minimum of 14 years. 

The trio were convicted of murdering Kayden Moy on Irvine Beach on the coast of Ayrshire in Scotland on May 17, last year.

Turley admitted the killing, while Stewart and the 15–year–old were found guilty last month following a trial at the High Court.

Sentencing the three at the court today, judge Lord Scott told them they had gone to the beach that day with the intention of carrying out an attack.

He told them: ‘Two of you took weapons including, in the case of Cole Turley, the knife with which Kayden Moy was stabbed.’

He added: ‘You didn’t care whether Kayden lived or died.’

Cole Turley, 18, and Jay Stewart, 19, (both pictured, L–R) and a 15–year–old – who cannot be named for legal reasons – were sentenced at Glasgow High Court this morning

The trio were convicted of murdering Kayden Moy (pictured) on Irvine Beach on May 17, last year

The attack happened as part of gang violence between teenagers who had travelled to Irvine Beach (pictured)

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Lord Scott also referred to a victim impact statement from Kayden’s family, in which they said they are ‘devastated beyond words’ by his death.

The statement added: ‘He was loved beyond measure, and he will be missed for the rest of our lives.’

A jury previously heard that Turley, Stewart and the 15–year–old were members of the Murray Boys gang in East Kilbride.

Kayden and friends were part of the rival Himshie gang.

There had been friction between the two groups in the run up to the attack.

The court heard Turley, Stewart and the 15–year–old were throwing rocks at Kayden and his friends on the beach.

Kayden and two friends – who were unarmed – went on to confront the three.

Turley then whipped out a large lockback knife while Stewart held a police–style extendable baton.

Kaydon Moy’s parents Paul and Ashley Moy were greeted by supporters outside the High Court in Glasgow

A witness told the court: ‘Kayden kind of slipped and Cole Turley jumped on him.’

Turley plunged the blade into the teenager twice – on the body and thigh – before he fled.

Members of Kayden’s family left the public gallery when horror CCTV and mobile phone footage of the stabbing was played to the court.

Stricken Kayden hobbled down from the sand dune where the stabbing took place to the beach below.

His friend recalled: ‘I remember blood going down Kayden’s leg and Kayden going really white and his eyes started to close.’

The young victim was given first aid by a woman and taken to hospital by ambulance.

He suffered a second cardiac arrest and passed away at 11.33pm. The cause of death was ‘stab wound to the trunk’.

After running from the scene, Turley stuck the knife into the grass and was overheard boasting that he ‘just done him’.

Turley also shouted ‘One–nil.’

CCTV showed the trio running down a road near to the beach – stopping momentarily to embrace each other.

Stewart and Turley shook hands while the 15–year–old cuddled the knife attacker.

The trio took a taxi to the flat of Turley’s 19–year–old friend Fraser Wallace’s house in East Kilbride.

On being told that Kayden was still alive, the witness told jurors that the teenagers made up a rap song about their victim.

Following their conviction, Kayden’s parents, Paul and Ashley said: ‘Kayden was an amazing, caring boy who lit up every room he walked into. He brought happiness to everyone around him.

‘Every morning we wake up and are faced again with the reality that he is gone. We will never hear his laugh again, never see his smile, never watch him achieve the goals he worked so hard for.

‘We have an empty chair at family gatherings, an empty bedroom in our home, and an emptiness in our hearts that can never be filled. We do not simply miss Kayden on special occasions; we miss him every minute of every day.

‘All the milestones and memories that should have been part of his future have been taken away forever. He was loved beyond measure and will forever be missed.’