The teenagers convicted of killing Kayden Moy were members of the 'Murray Boys' blade gang that terrorised East Kilbride in the years preceding the murder. Cole Turley, 18, Jay Stewart, 18, and a 15-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, regularly posted images on social media flaunting knives and issuing threats to other youths.
Gang Activity on Social Media
The baby-faced thugs roamed the town drinking Buckfast and instigating violence. Shocking photographs show the killers with their faces masked, posing with weapons. In one image, Jay Stewart, his face covered with a checkered scarf, holds a Rambo-style machete. His arm is around the masked 15-year-old, who clutches a bottle of Buckfast and a blade. Another picture shows Stewart holding a bottle of wine while the 15-year-old brandishes an item, thought to be a weapon, which has been blurred out.
Additional images capture the youths with hoods up and faces masked, sitting on a bus gripping bottles of Buckfast. Another photo shows them on what appears to be the same night, standing outside an astroturf football pitch.
Local Reactions
A local source said: "They were always in packs and used free public transport to get around East Kilbride to throw their weight around. Everyone stayed well clear of them because it was known that they carried knives and always had bottles on them that they could use as weapons too. It was only a matter of time before something serious happened the way they carried on but hopefully the next generation growing up in the town will learn a lesson from this."
The Murder of Kayden Moy
Stewart and the 15-year-old boy were found guilty of murdering Kayden Moy at Irvine Beach in May of last year. Turley had previously admitted to the murder before the trial started at the High Court in Edinburgh. The court heard how the trio travelled to the Ayrshire beach after a row earlier that day with Kayden's 'Himshie' gang from the Greenhills area of the town.
After a confrontation, they rushed at Kayden, and when he fell to the ground, he was stabbed to death. Stewart shouted 'Murray Boys' in the moments after the stabbing. The gang were captured on CCTV running away from the scene. In the clip, Turley leads the way at the front, with Stewart behind him and the 15-year-old following. Stewart is topless with a rucksack on his back, while Turley and the 15-year-old wear tracksuits. Two of the boys put an arm around each other, and one claps his hands together as they sprint across the road to the beach front.
Ring doorbell footage also captured them hiding inside a flat in East Kilbride after returning to the town. In the clip, the youths cover their faces with their t-shirts and hold their hands up to the camera as they go upstairs. Inside the flat, they washed their hands in an attempt to hide evidence, but all three were eventually traced and charged.
Victim's Family Statement
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. We would like to thank the officers involved in investigating Kayden’s murder for their commitment to the inquiry and bringing those responsible to justice."
