Teenagers Accused of Murder Seen Hugging and Shaking Hands After Attack
Teenagers accused of murdering a 16-year-old at Irvine Beach were observed "cuddling" and shaking hands following the fatal stabbing, jurors have been informed.
A 15-year-old boy and Jay Stewart, 18, face charges of killing Kayden Moy on 17 May 2025. Cole Turley, 18, admitted guilt to the murder prior to the trial commencing at the High Court in Glasgow.
Jurors reviewed multiple CCTV and mobile phone recordings capturing the entire incident in sequence, including footage showing Turley embracing the 15-year-old and shaking hands with Stewart.
Forensic biologist Claire Vallance previously testified that only Turley’s and Moy’s DNA were identified on the murder weapon, a lock back knife.
The trial has revealed that Turley, Stewart, and the 15-year-old were members of the Murray Boys gang based in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.
Moy and his associates were said to belong to the rival Himshie gang, with a confrontation between the two groups occurring at the beach.
Initial footage presented in court showed Moy and his friends arriving at Irvine train station, alongside the separate arrival of the other trio.
Turley and the 15-year-old were seen putting their hoods up after disembarking the train, before meeting two other youths and proceeding to the beach.
Various mobile phone videos depicting the incident and the stabbing’s aftermath were also shown to the jury.
Previously unseen footage was then played, showing the trio apparently running along a road near the beach.
Jurors were informed that Stewart and Turley were observed "shaking hands."
During a later segment of the footage, prosecutor Liam Ewing KC questioned witness Brian Hamilton, a detective constable with the police, about his observations.
"One hand coming out from the 15-year-old boy and one from Turley,"
Det Con Hamilton replied.
Ewing asked if the handshake was fully visible, to which Hamilton responded that it was not.
In subsequent footage, Ewing inquired who was seen cuddling, with Hamilton stating it was the 15-year-old and Turley.
They also appeared to be clapping hands.
Donald Findlay KC, defending Stewart, suggested to Hamilton that his client had not attempted to conceal his identity, to which the witness agreed.
Regarding footage of the incident’s aftermath, Findlay proposed that individuals closer to Moy than Stewart were present, a possibility Hamilton acknowledged.
Earlier, Findlay KC questioned Vallance about her conclusions concerning the weapon.
"There was no DNA attributed to Jay Stewart on this knife,"
she stated.
Findlay asked if this was consistent with Stewart never having handled the knife, and Vallance confirmed it was.
The advocate also queried whether DNA deposits found on an extendable baton belonging to Stewart were deposited simultaneously.
Findlay asked,
"Is the answer 'I don't know'?"
and Vallance replied affirmatively.
Ian Duguid KC, representing the 15-year-old, proposed a scenario where the murder weapon was passed from the boy’s waistband to Turley to carry out the stabbing.
The advocate asked,
"The knife in its entirety had nothing at all which can be identified from the boy?"
Vallance responded,
"That's correct."
The trial is ongoing before Judge Lord Scott.
