Teenager admits murder of Kayden Moy on Irvine beach

News imagePolice Scotland Kayden Moy looks in the camera and smiles - he is a teenage boy with short dark hair.Police Scotland
Kayden Moy died after a disturbance at Irvine beach

A teenager has admitted murdering 16-year-old Kayden Moy on Irvine Beach.

A jury has heard that Cole Turley, 18, had earlier pleaded guilty to the murder, as two other teenagers went on trial for the killing on 17 May 2025.

The murder charge says Jay Stewart, 18, and a 15-year-old boy, while acting with Turley, pursued Moy and caused him to fall to the ground before they repeatedly stabbed him on the body.

They have denied murder and lodged a defence of incrimination.

The pair also deny a separate charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, while acting with Turley, between 17 and 21 May 2025.

It is claimed that they attempted to remove blood from the knife, fled Irvine beach, and hid within bushes there.

The pair are said to have requested a third party to book a taxi for them to leave the area.

It is stated that they travelled to an address in East Kilbride and repeatedly covered their faces with clothing to conceal their identities from cameras as well as a video doorbell.

The pair are claimed to have changed their clothing as well as washed their bodies and hands of blood.

Knives are stated to have been secreted in a divan bed frame and a freezer.

It is further claimed they requested that someone burn their discarded blood-stained clothing and telephone.

The allegations say that they fled from the East Kilbride property through a window to avoid detection by police officers.

It is claimed that the pair used cash to pay for goods to avoid debit cards being linked to them.

They are later alleged to have handed police the clothing they were wearing and state it was worn at the time of the alleged murder.

The teenager is stated to have stayed at a Holiday Inn in East Kilbride.

News imagePolice tape lies in the sand on the litter-strewn section of beach where the teenager was seriously injured
The incident took place on Irvine beach in May 2025

Stewart appears alone on a charge, accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at an address in East Kilbride on 1 May 2025.

It is claimed he sent messages via social media to a Jay McGarry or Mooney, 18, uttering threats of violence.

Stewart and the teenager face a similar charge on 17 May on Irvine beach, where they are stated to have acted with Turley and shouted, behaved in an aggressive manner, challenging others to fight, as well as brandishing knives and a baton.

The pair are further claimed to have acted with Turley to throw rocks culpably and recklessly at members of the public, placing them in danger of injury.

Stewart and the teenager lastly face charges of having a knife on Irvine beach.

The trial at the High Court in Glasgow was told that the pair have lodged a special defence of incrimination against Turley, who jurors were told by the clerk "has already pleaded guilty to said [murder] charge."

Stewart is represented by Donald Findlay KC while the teenager has Ian Duguid KC appearing for him.

The trial continues before Judge Lord Scott.