Teens who murdered Kayden Moy in beach stabbing given permission to appeal sentences

Three teenagers who murdered a 16-year-old boy at a beach in North Ayrshire have been granted an appeal against their sentence.

Cole Turley and Jay Stewart, both aged 18, and a 15-year-old boy, who can’t be named for legal reasons, were given life sentences earlier this year for the murder of Kayden Moy.

Kayden was fatally stabbed amid a dispute between rival gangs from East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, in May 2025.

The three teens, members of the Murray Boys gang, fled the busy beach after attacking the schoolboy and then went on to create a rap song mocking him.

Kayden’s father, Paul Moy, met with the Scottish justice minister on Thursday to demand changes to parole, bail and sentencing in a bid to get justice for victims and their families. He was joined by Lisa Stewart, whose 17-year-old sister Michelle was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend John Wilson in 2008.

Mr Moy urged the Scottish Government to address inadequate guidance around bail conditions in knife crime cases.

He believes if one of his son’s killers had been under stricter bail conditions, Kayden may still be alive.

Jay Stewart was handed a community payback order for carrying a machete just four days before Kayden’s death.

Kayden Moy's father Paul met with the Justice Secretary over looking for changes to bail conditions for offenders. — Kayden Moy’s father Paul met with the Justice Secretary over looking for changes to bail conditions for offenders. STV News

Speaking to STV News, Mr Moy said: “We would like the laws to be tougher around bail.

“I believe if Jay Stewart had not been bailed, Kayden would still be alive.

“I’ve been here before (Scottish Parliament) and the last time I heard nothing back. We touched on social work and knife crime, and I heard nothing, so I hope something more positive can come of it.

“At the end of the day, I don’t think anybody’s going anywhere. To bring the numbers of knife crime down, you have to have more of a deterrent out there to stop it.

Within a week of being sentenced to life in prison, Stewart was seen rapping about what he had done from his cell.

The teenager’s dad criticised the decision to grant the three killers a chance to appeal their conviction and sentence, saying that the family will have to “relive” the ordeal again.

“In this country, everything’s for the offender; where’s the justice for the victim’s family?” he added.

“It should be brought up in parliament, and it should be talked about to see what we can do to get tougher laws going forward.”

Lisa Stewart and her family began the Michelle’s Law campaign following Michelle Stewart’s death in 2008.

The 17-year-old was stabbed ten times in front of her friends by John Wilson, then aged 20, after ending their relationship in the village of Drongan.

Wilson was sentenced to life in prison but was granted release on licence earlier this month, having served 16 years.

Michelle’s family have been campaigning to give victims a greater voice at parole hearings and for exclusion zones to be imposed on former prisoners.

Speaking to STV News ahead of the meeting with Neil Gray, she said: “We’re hoping to achieve meaningful action and change on knife crime, particularly among youths. We’re hoping that the minister will agree to some sort of deterrent – whether that be through stronger sentencing or education, or both combined.

“I’m going to raise our experience through the parole system and the need for greater transparency and to make the system more balanced and fairer towards victims and their families.”