Father of Kayden Moy says family have been left with 'life sentence' after teenage son's murder

The family of murdered teenager Kayden Moy say they have been handed a “life sentence” by the teenager’s killers as they were jailed for life on Tuesday.

Cole Turley and Jay Stewart, both 18, and a 15-year-old boy were sentenced to minimums of 16 years and 14 years, respectively, at the High Court in Glasgow.

In June, a 15-year-old boy, who can’t be named for legal reasons, and co-accused Stewart stood trial accused of killing Kayden at Irvine Beach on May 17, 2025.

Turley had previously pleaded guilty to the murder before the trial started at the High Court in Glasgow.

Glasgow & West

Three teens who murdered boy in beach stabbing jailed for life

Cole Turley and Jay Stewart, both 18, and a 15-year-old boy were sentenced to minimums of 16 years and 14 years respectively

The trial heard that Stewart and the 15-year-old, while acting with Turley, pursued Kayden and caused him to fall to the ground.

Turley fatally stabbed Kayden amid a dispute between rival gangs from East Kilbride, Lanarkshire.

The three teens, members of the Murray Boys gang, fled the busy beach. They went on to create a rap song mocking Kayden.

Turley also acted out the vicious murder on the couch of a friend whose flat was used as a hide-out.

‘Sentencing does not bring our son back’

Following Tuesday’s sentencing, Kayden’s family gathered outside the court to read a statement about the impact of Kayden’s murder.

Read out by Paul Moy, Kayden’s father, the statement highlighted the ongoing pain the family have suffered in the wake of the 16-year-old’s death.

Mr Moy said: “Today, the three boys responsible for taking our son Kayden’s life have finally been sentenced.

“While today’s outcome brings a measure of justice, it does not bring peace. It does not bring our son back.

“Kayden was more than a name in a courtroom or headline in the news.

“He was our son. He was loved beyond words and had his whole life ahead of him.

“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.”

Mr Moy also highlighted the impact of knife crime, saying “one moment of violence” had destroyed lives.

He said: “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.

“We want to thank the police, the prosecution, and everyone who worked so hard to secure justice for Kayden.

“We are also deeply grateful to our family, friends and the wider community who have stood beside us throughout this nightmare. Your support has carried us through our darkest days.

“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.”