Teen acted out fatal stabbing of Kayden Moy on friend's couch, court hears

A teenager who murdered a 16-year-old on Irvine Beach acted out the fatal stabbing on his friend’s couch, jurors heard.

Cole Turley, 18, allegedly jumped on his friend’s sofa in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, on the evening of May 17, 2025.

Turley had struck victim Kayden Moy with a knife that day, and the youth later died.

A 19-year-old gave evidence at the murder trial of Jay Stewart, 18, and a 15-year-old boy. Turley earlier pleaded guilty to the murder.

He claimed “proud” Turley “acted out exactly what he did on the beach” to Kayden on the couch.

He stated that Turley then hid “the biggest knife I’ve ever seen” after cutting a hole in his divan bed.

The murder charge says Stewart and the 15-year-old, while acting with Turley, pursued Kayden and caused him to fall to the ground before they repeatedly stabbed him in the body.

It is alleged that Stewart and the other teenager had previous ill will and malice towards him.

Turley pleaded guilty before trial to the murder charge. The two teens on trial have lodged a special defence of incrimination against him.

The trial had previously heard that Turley, Stewart and the 15-year-old were part of The Murray Boys gang of East Kilbride, Lanarkshire. Kayden and his friends were stated to be members of the rival Himshie gang.

Jurors heard a second day of evidence from the teenager.

The court was previously told by the witness that the trio visited him on the night of the incident.

He claimed that the three teenagers made up a rap song about Kayden, having been told that he initially survived the attack.

The witness on Thursday stated that he was told that Turley took the knife from the 15-year-old at the beach before he ran at Moy.

The witness said: “He told me that he lunged for Kayden and repeatedly stabbed him.”

Prosecutor Liam Ewing KC asked if Turley did anything else.

He replied: “He jumped on my couch and acted it out in front of me.”

Mr Ewing asked: “What did he do?”

The witness 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.”

Jurors were then told Turley took the teenager to his bedroom and brought out a knife.

The witness said: “It was massive – I had never seen a lock back that big before in my life.”

The witness claimed Turley then lifted up his divan bed and cut a “massive hole” and lodged the knife in it.

Jurors were told that the four teenagers then went out to find a bag for the blood-stained clothes.

He stated that Stewart and the 15-year-old went into the bushes with a flashlight.

The witness said: “Jay pulled out this massive machete and put it back.”

Jurors were told that a baton was later found under a chair in the witness’s home by police officers, which the witness claimed he was unaware of.

A knife was also recovered from his freezer, which he denied putting there or having knowledge of before the day of the incident.

The witness claimed he gave the teenagers clothes to wear “as they were cold.”

The court heard that he later took a taxi to a friend’s house alone. He claimed that he “didn’t know what to do.”

A 999 call made by the witness was played to the court, in which he told the operator about Kayden being stabbed and the three teenagers being in his house.

The witness stated he returned home and received a call from the police, which he had to pretend was from his ex-girlfriend.

He said: “The next thing, armed police are at my front door, and they jumped out my window.”

Mr Ewing asked: “Who were they?”

The witness said: “Jay, Cole and the other boy.”

When pressed by the advocate depute, the teenager said he “assumed” they jumped out the window as it was open, but did not see them.

The trial continues before Judge Lord Scott.