Witness Account of Kayden Moy's Fatal Stabbing
A 17-year-old teenager has provided testimony in a murder trial, describing how he witnessed his 16-year-old "best friend," Kayden Moy, being fatally stabbed on Irvine Beach.
The witness was giving evidence in the trial of Jay Stewart, 18, and a 15-year-old boy, both charged with the murder of Kayden Moy on 17 May last year.
The murder charge alleges that Stewart and the 15-year-old, acting alongside 18-year-old Cole Turley, pursued Kayden, causing him to fall before he was repeatedly stabbed.
Kayden's friend stated that the accused had come to Irvine specifically seeking the victim. It is claimed that Stewart and the other teenager harbored prior ill-will and malice towards Kayden.
Turley pleaded guilty to the murder charge before the trial commenced, while Stewart and the 15-year-old have lodged a special defence of incrimination against him.
The witness’s recorded statement to police, given two weeks after the incident, was played to the jury.
He informed officers that he and a group of friends, including Kayden Moy, were members of the Himshie gang based in the Greenhills area of East Kilbride in South Lanarkshire.
The teenager recounted that his group had travelled to Irvine and were seated on sand dunes when he and another boy initially engaged in a revenge attack on an unrelated youth on behalf of the Himshie gang.
Later that day, the witness claimed, rocks "the size of hands" were thrown at his group but did not make contact.
When questioned by police about who threw the rocks, the teenager identified Stewart, Turley, and the 15-year-old as responsible.
Attack 'was planned'
The witness said he knew the trio, who belonged to the Murray Boys gang in East Kilbride, and mentioned they had previously been friends.
He told jurors that he, Kayden, and another boy approached the sand dune to "confront" Stewart, Turley, and the 15-year-old.
The groups were approximately 10 feet (3 meters) apart when Turley produced a knife and Stewart revealed a cosh.
The teenager claimed they told the pair to discard their weapons and offered to "box" them.
However, the boy said Kayden slipped, at which point Turley jumped on him and stabbed him.
It was asserted that the 15-year-old "did not hit anyone" but shouted threats and threw rocks.
When asked about the purpose of the trio's presence, the teenager said:
"Probably, they came for us. One hundred percent. Apparently they were at Troon or Ayr and came to Irvine. They came and found us.
"It was planned. How would they know what sand dune we were on. There were so many people around."
Aftermath was 'total chaos'
The witness recalled that he and another boy took Kayden down to the beach, where they were soon surrounded by others as Kayden’s face turned pale and blood ran down his leg.
Under questioning from Donald Findlay KC, representing Stewart, the witness described the scene as one of "total chaos."
Mark Stewart KC, defending the 15-year-old, asked if Kayden had a bottle during the confrontation.
The teenager replied:
"I don't remember, I don't think he did."
Earlier, Detective Constable Ally Dunne, 45, provided evidence including still and moving images from the incident.
Under questioning, he agreed that footage showing Turley standing over Kayden on the sand dune suggested that Turley was acting alone at that moment.
The two teenagers on trial also face additional charges, including attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The trial continues before Judge Lord Scott.
