Two evil teenage thugs have been found guilty of murdering a 16-year-old boy after a row on a beach turned to horror.

Jay Stewart 18, and a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, killed Kayden Moy on May 17, 2025.

The pair’s friend, Cole Turley, 18, fatally stabbed Kayden amid a dispute between rival gangs from East Kilbride, Lanarkshire.

The callous trio ‘cuddled’ and shook hands as they fled Irvine beach, Ayrshire, which was packed with horrified teenagers.

The ‘ecstatic’ thugs went on to create a sick rap song mocking their victim.

Turley also acted out the vicious murder on the couch of a friend whose flat was used as a hide-out.

Stewart was subject to a community payback order at the time for possession of a machete which was imposed four days before the murder. His other previous conviction was a breach of the peace with a knife.

He and the 15-year-old were found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of murdering the amateur footballer, who played for Busby AFC.

Turley pleaded guilty to murder before the trial.

Members of Kayden’s family became emotional and applauded when the jurors - four of whom were visibly emotional - delivered their verdict.

Those in support of the two teenagers shouted ‘Grasses the lot of you’. 

Callous Stewart smirked at Kayden’s family as he was led to the cells. The three will be sentenced next month.

Following the verdict, Kayden’s parents, Paul and Ashley said: ‘Kayden was an amazing, caring boy who lit up every room he walked into. He brought happiness to everyone around him.

‘Every morning we wake up and are faced again with the reality that he is gone. 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. We do not simply miss Kayden on special occasions; we miss him every minute of every day.

‘All the milestones and memories that should have been part of his future have been taken away forever. He was loved beyond measure and will forever be missed.’

The jury previously heard that Turley, Stewart and the 15-year-old were members of the Murray Boys gang in East Kilbride.

Kayden and friends were part of the rival Himshie gang.

There had been friction between the two groups in the run up to the attack.

The court heard Turley, Stewart and the 15-year-old were throwing rocks at Kayden and his friends on the beach.

Kayden and two friends - who were unarmed - went on to confront the three.

Turley then whipped out a large lockback knife while Stewart held a police-style extendable baton.

A witness told the court: ‘Kayden kind of slipped and Cole Turley jumped on him.’

Turley plunged the blade into the teenager twice - on the body and thigh - before he fled.

Members of Kayden’s family left the public gallery when horror CCTV and mobile phone footage of the stabbing was played to the court.

Stricken 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.’

The young victim was given first aid by a woman and taken to hospital by ambulance.

He suffered a second cardiac arrest and passed away at 11.33pm. The cause of death was ‘stab wound to the trunk’.

After running from the scene, Turley stuck the knife into the grass and was overheard boasting that he ‘just done him’.

Turley also shouted ‘One-nil.’

CCTV showed the trio running down a road near to the beach - stopping momentarily to embrace each other.

Stewart and Turley shook hands while the 15-year-old cuddled the knife attacker.

The trio took a taxi to the flat of Turley’s 19-year-old friend Fraser Wallace’s house in East Kilbride.

On being told that Kayden was still alive, the witness told jurors that the teenagers made up a rap song about their victim.

Mr Ewing asked Mr Wallace what the mood was at that point and he replied: ‘They were ecstatic, over the moon, I have never seen people as happy in my life.’

The witness went on to say that Turley also jumped on his couch. Mr Ewing asked: ‘What did he do?’

The teenager said: ‘Exactly what he did on the beach on my couch. Lunged on my couch like he was stabbing Kayden. Like he was really proud of it.’

Mr Wallace gave the teenagers a change of clothes while the blood stained garments were put in a backpack.

He made two 999 calls to report that those responsible for Mr Moy’s death were at his home.

By the time armed police arrived at Mr Wallace’s home the trio had escaped from a first-floor window.

Judge Lord Scott deferred sentence pending background reports until next month.

The judge said: ‘You have been found guilty of murder and there is a sentence proscribed by law for that.

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

The judge later told jurors that it was an ‘emotive case’ due to the ages of the teenagers and offered an exemption from future jury service.