Two teens found guilty of killing Kayden Moy on Irvine Beach to appeal conviction

Two teens found guilty of killing Kayden Moy on Irvine Beach intend to appeal against their conviction.

Jay Stewart, 19, and a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stood trial at the High Court in Glasgow for their part in the murder. Both were found guilty.

The pair received a life sentence, with Stewart required to spend a minimum of 16 years, and his co-accused jailed for a minimum of 14 years, which will start in secure accommodation until he is 19.

Cole Turley, (l) and Jay Stewart, (r) Police Scotland

However, the pair have lodged their intention to appeal both the conviction and sentence.

This comes after Cole Turley, 18, who admitted to fatally stabbing the 16-year-old boy on Irvine Beach amid a dispute between rival gangs from East Kilbride, lodged an appeal against his life sentence on Tuesday.

Kayden’s dad, Paul Moy, says the appeal has dragged the family “straight back into the nightmare.”

He wrote: “We will never understand how someone who took our son’s life can now ask for another chance. Sixteen years never felt like justice to us in the first place, and now we’re faced with the possibility of having to relive everything all over again.

“Our son was robbed of his future, and we were robbed of a lifetime with him. That sentence can never compare to the life that was taken or the pain our family lives with every single day.”

Rival gangs

Kayden and a group of friends went to Irvine Beach on the afternoon of May 17.

Later that day, one of Kayden’s friends attacked an associate of the Murray Boys. Jurors heard that Kayden had stepped in to break it up.

After hearing about the attack, Turley, Stewart and the 15-year-old made their way from East Kilbride to Irvine Beach armed with weapons.

They went on to throw rocks at the rival group. Kayden and two friends, who were unarmed, confronted them.

Turley brandished a large lockback knife while Stewart held a police-style extendable baton.

One of Kayden’s friends, who gave evidence, told the pair to get rid of their weapons and offered to “box” them in a fist fight.

Kayden and his friends then ran, but he slipped.

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

Stewart brandished his baton and was heard to shout: “Murray Boys”. He then told a witness at the scene: “He f***ing deserved it.”

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.”

Another friend told the court that Kayden fell unconscious and his lips turned blue.

He was given first aid by a woman at the beach before emergency crews took over.

He was taken to hospital by ambulance, but Kayden suffered a second cardiac arrest and died at 11.33pm.

The cause of death was “stab wound to the trunk”.

Stewart raps behind bars

After being jailed a TikTok video of Stewart show him boasting about the killing from behind bars.

Just over a week after being sentenced, Stewart has allegedly posted a video online from HMP Polmont boasting about stabbing the 16-year-old.

He appears to refer to Kayden by using his initials, KM, during a rap and can be heard to say that people know “KM is dead”. He goes on to say “everyone knows my scheme is violent, big plan for future ahead. I just love being a bloody ned”.

He also appears to threaten further violence following his jail term.

Stewart was allegedly filmed rapping behind bars. Supplied

STV News understands the Scottish Prison Service is investigating the video.

A spokesperson said: “We understand the lasting impact this kind of offending has on families and the significant distress such videos can cause.

“Our staff work hard to keep prisons safe and secure, using all available technology and intelligence to prevent illicit items, including mobile phones, entering our establishments.

“While we do not comment on individuals, we continue to work with Police Scotland, and other partners, to take action against those who attempt to breach our security.”