Teenagers jailed for murdering 16-year-old in beach knife attack

Image source, Police Scotland Image caption, Cole Turley (left) and Jay Stewart were two of the three attackers Published 21 July 2026, 11:26 BST Updated 7 minutes ago Three teenagers have been jailed for murdering a 16-year-old boy during a confrontation between rival groups on a beach in North Ayrshire last year. They were convicted of stabbing Kayden Moy on Irvine Beach on 17 May 2025. Cole Turley, 18, who had pleaded guilty to the murder , and Jay Stewart, 19 were jailed for a minimum of 16 years. A third teenager - a 15-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons - will be detained for a minimum of 14 years. Passing sentence, Judge Lord Scott said Kayden Moy's death was "pointless and unnecessary". He said the attackers "travelled to Irvine, armed, intent on a reprisal for some slight". He added: "It could have been anyone but Kayden slipped and fell." The court heard that Stewart and the 15-year-old - while acting with Turley - chased Moy and repeatedly stabbed him with a lock knife after he fell to the ground. The three were seen on CCTV hugging and shaking hands minutes after the attack. Teenagers guilty of murdering 16-year-old Kayden Moy in beach attack Published 5 June Teenagers accused of murder 'hugged and shook hands' after attack Published 1 June Mum of stabbed teen told witness: 'Don't tell me my baby is gone' Published 22 May Stewart and the 15-year-old had denied murder but were found guilty last month after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Prosecutor Liam Ewing KC said their apparent congratulations to each other after the stabbing were "the actions of those who have accomplished what they came to do". The teenagers went on to create a rap song mocking Moy who at the time was fighting for his life in hospital. Turley also acted out the murder on the couch of a friend whose flat was used as a hide-out. Image source, Police Scotland Image caption, Kayden Moy was attacked on Irvine Beach last year The trial heard the attackers were members of the Murray Boys gang from East Kilbride, while Moy was a member of the rival Himshie group. The trio had travelled to Irvine beach after a fight between the groups earlier that day. Stewart, who was also armed with an extendable baton, had previously made threats towards Moy on social media. The boys threw rocks at Moy and his friends - which prosecutors said was intended to draw them into a fight. After the stabbing, which led to scenes of chaos on the beach, they took a taxi back to East Kilbride. They entered the home of 19-year-old Fraser Wallace, who was friendly with Turley. Wallace gave evidence during the tria l, saying he was told by the 15-year-old that he had passed the murder weapon to Turley before the stabbing. To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Figure caption, Teenagers hug in street as they flee the scene of a fatal knife attack on Kayden Moy Related topics Scotland Irvine