Teenage killers smile and shake hands after stabbing boy to death on beach

A trio of teenagers celebrated with each other and then fled the scene after stabbing a boy on a Scottish beach.

Jay Stewart, 18 and an unnamed 15-year-old boy were found to have assisted 18-year-old Cole Turley to murder Kayden Moy.

Turley admitted to pursuing and repeatedly stabbing Kayden, 16,at Irvine beach in North Ayrshire last month.

The other two teenagers were found guilty of murder at Glasgow High Court on Friday.

Jurors heard that the trio had been throwing rocks at people on the beach from the top of a sand dune.

Kayden went up to confront the boys just as he was about to leave at 6pm, his girlfriend Keryn Knox recounted.

She told the court: ‘I went up with him to try and stop him. At that point he had run up the hill and he was just shouting stuff back.’

As Kayden approached the group, Turley pulled out a knife while Stewart produced an extendable baton.

Turley stabbed Kayden in the leg and the torso, the latter which he fatally wounded.

All three had been members of the Murray Boys group, while Kayden and others were part of the Himshie group in East Kilbride.

Footage captured the three shaking hands and singing as they left Kayden to die in the sand.

Kayden was taken by ambulance to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock after entering a cardiac arrest.

Despite efforts of medics and assisted oxygen, CPR and a blood transfusion, the teenager died the same day at 11.33pm.

Both Stewart and the 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denied the charge of murder and lodged special defences of incrimination.

They insisted that Turley was solely responsible for Kayden’s death.

David Duguid KC, representing the 15-year-old, suggested he believed the altercation would be a ‘fist fight’ and couldn’t have anticipated Kayden would end up stabbed.

Donald Findlay KC, defending Stewart, submitted that the character of the confrontation was changed by Turley producing a knife.

Kayden’s parents paid tribute to ‘amazing, caring boy who lit up every room he walked into’.

They said following the verdict: ‘We will never hear his laugh again, never see his smile, never watch him achieve the goals he worked so hard for.

‘We have an empty chair at family gatherings, an empty bedroom in our home, and an emptiness in our hearts that can never be filled.’

DCI Campbell Jackson said: ‘Today’s outcome will never compensate for Kayden’s death; it won’t ease the heartache his family and friends must feel every single day.

‘My thoughts very much remain with Kayden’s parents, brothers and his family and friends for their devastating loss. However, I do hope that they find some comfort in seeing justice being done.’

He added: ‘Kayden was robbed of his future that day and his family and friends were robbed of a future with him.

‘He should have made it home with memories that day of a day at the beach, but the actions of others means that Kayden will never grow up into adulthood.’

Judge Lord Scott delayed sentencing Stewart and the 15-year-old, alongside Turley, while checks into their background are carried out.

He said: ‘You have been found guilty of murder, and there is a sentence prescribed by law for that.

‘I need information on your background due to your age. In the meantime, you will be remanded in custody.’

The three were remanded in custody and are due to be sentenced on July 21.

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