An 18-year-old who admitted killing 16-year-old Kayden Moy on Irvine Beach has notified the Court of Appeal that he intends to challenge the sentence handed down last month.
Appeal notification received
The Court of Appeal confirmed it received a formal note of appeal against the sentence imposed on Cole Turley on 4 August. The notice will be subject to a sift process in which a senior judge or appeal sheriff decides whether permission for a full appeal should be granted.
Turley, who pleaded guilty to murder at an earlier High Court hearing in Glasgow, was given a minimum term of 16 years. Two co-accused — Jay Stewart, 19, and a 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons — were tried and convicted at the same court and received custodial terms at the same sentencing sitting presided over by Judge Lord Scott.
| Offender | Age | Minimum term | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Turley | 18 | 16 years | Adult prison |
| Jay Stewart | 19 | 16 years | Initially a young offenders institution |
| 15-year-old (name withheld) | 15 | 14 years | Secure accommodation to age 19, then custody |
Case background and community impact
The fatal stabbing of Kayden Moy took place in May last year amid a dispute said to involve rival gangs from East Kilbride. The three young men then fled the beach, which witnesses described as being crowded with teenagers at the time. Subsequent reporting set out that the perpetrators engaged in behaviour that compounded the community's shock, including creating a rap song referring to the attack while Kayden was fighting for his life and re-enacting aspects of the killing at a flat used as a hideout.
- Incident: fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Kayden Moy, May (last year).
- Defendants: Cole Turley (admitted guilt), Jay Stewart (convicted at trial), and a 15-year-old (convicted at trial).
- Sentence: Turley and Stewart given minimum terms of 16 years; the 15-year-old given a minimum of 14 years, to begin in secure accommodation.
- Appeal: note lodged by Turley's legal team received by the Court of Appeal on 4 August; sift process pending.
The sentencing judge was Lord Scott. Beyond the criminal proceedings themselves, the case has left a profound mark on Irvine's seaside community, which has had to confront both the violence and the disturbing aftermath documented during the investigation and at trial.
What the appeal process means
The initial step confirmed by the Court of Appeal is the receipt of a formal notice of appeal. That will be sifted by a senior appellate judge or an appeal sheriff to determine whether the grounds raised merit permission to proceed to a substantive appeal hearing. If permission is refused at sift, the sentence will stand unless further extraordinary steps are taken. If permission is granted, the appeal court will hear arguments on whether the sentence was excessive, whether there were procedural irregularities or other legal errors that affected the sentencing judge’s decision.
At this stage the court documents lodged by Turley’s legal representatives are not in the public domain, and no hearing date has been scheduled. The confirmation from the Court of Appeal relates solely to receipt of the notice; it does not indicate how the court views the prospects of success.
The community in Irvine continues to process the ramifications of the crime and the sentences imposed. Any move by convicted offenders to challenge their terms is likely to be watched closely by the victim’s family and local residents, many of whom remain affected by the attack that took place on one of the town’s most public spaces.
