Three teenagers have been sentenced after the murder of 16-year-old Kayden Moy, who was fatally stabbed on Irvine Beach in May 2025.
At the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday, Cole Turley (18) and Jay Stewart (19) were each sentenced to life imprisonment with a punishment part of 16 years, while a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to life detention with a punishment part of 14 years.
Turley had previously admitted murdering Kayden, while Stewart and the younger teenager were found guilty following a trial last month.
Passing sentence, Lord Scott described Kayden’s death as “pointless and unnecessary” and told the three youths that they had travelled to Irvine Beach intent on carrying out a reprisal attack, with two of them armed with weapons. He said intoxication was “no excuse whatsoever” and noted that after the attack they attempted to conceal their involvement, demonstrating it had been a planned assault.
Kayden was fatally stabbed on Irvine Beach on 17 May 2025 after confronting the group, who had been throwing rocks at people on the beach. The incident, witnessed by numerous members of the public, shocked communities across Ayrshire and beyond.
Following today’s sentencing, Kayden’s father, Paul Moy, said while the outcome brought “a measure of justice”, it would never bring his son back.
He added: “Kayden was more than a name in a courtroom or a headline in the news. He was our son. He was much loved beyond words and had his whole life ahead of him.
“The choices made that day have devastated our family forever. It is a clear message that violence has devastating consequences. One moment of violence has destroyed many lives.”
He finished by saying: “More 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 and missed. His name will never be forgotten.”
Today’s sentencing brings the criminal proceedings to a close, but for Kayden’s family and loved ones, the impact of his loss will be lifelong.