Five people convicted in double mistaken identity murder of teenage boys in Bristol

Four teenagers and a 45-year-old man were found guilty of murdering two boys, aged 15 and 16, who were attacked with machetes due to mistaken identity.

During the six-week trial at Bristol Crown Court, the jury heard how Max Dixon and Mason Rist fared. He was killed on January 27 due to identity confusion.after being misidentified as responsible for an attack on a brick house in the Hartcliffe area of the city earlier that evening.

18-year-old Riley Tolliver, 16, a 17-year-old boy and the getaway driver Antony Snook, 45, were found guilty of murdering 15-year-old Mason and 16-year-old Max.

A 15-year-old boy who previously admitted to Mason’s murder was also found guilty of Max’s murder.

Max and Mason died from stab wounds after being chased by four armed youths in Knowle West, Bristol.

Tolliver and three children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been whisked away to the area by Snook as part of a revenge mission.

As the jury foreman announced the guilty verdict, none of the defendants showed any reaction as they sat listlessly and stared straight ahead.

Relatives of Max and Mason cried in the courtroom as the verdicts were announced. Other family members cheered and punched the air.

Praise for ‘loving’ and ‘cute’ boys

In a statement released by Avon and Somerset Police, Max’s family said he was “a great character with a happy and cheerful outlook on life”.

His family added: “He was funny, kind and caring. He was a big part of the family and very popular with his friends. He was full of life and had a very cheeky side but was always respectful.”

The family said they would “miss everything about him”, adding: “We were broken without him but he would have wanted us to carry on and wouldn’t want anyone else to be demoralised.”

They said that following the outcome of the hearing they could now “begin to process and remember both of them and recall both families’ happy memories of Max and Mason”.

Speaking outside court, Mason’s uncle David Knight described his family as “one big jigsaw puzzle”.

“Mason was a huge piece of this puzzle, and basically his piece of the puzzle has now been destroyed and will never be replaced again,” he said.

His family added: “Mason was a quiet boy who wouldn’t hurt a fly. He was so sweet and innocent.”

The fatal stabbings lasted just 33 seconds; Both boys were assessed in court as having “non-survivable” injuries and “sudden severe blood loss”.

Both died in hospital in the early hours of January 28.

Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins, Avon and Somerset Police’s senior investigating officer on the case, told Sky News that Max and Mason had nothing to do with the house attack.

“These kids were unknown to their attackers, they were best friends, two beautiful kids going about their lives, and they attacked for no reason,” he said.

The gang was ‘seeking revenge’

The bulk of the prosecution’s case Based on CCTV and doorbell videosIncluding a camera in Mason’s home that recorded footage of the stabbing attack on him.

The couple was seen leaving Mason’s house around 11.15pm and going out for pizza.

Prosecutor Ray Tully KC told the jury the children were attacked by the group traveling in Snook’s Audi Q2.

He said the gang was “seeking revenge”, “moving in packs” to catch those responsible and was “equipped” with fearsome weapons.

After the attackers escaped, Max and Mason were left bleeding on the street.

More than 230 police officers and staff were involved in the investigation and thousands of pieces of evidence were analyzed.

Hundreds mourned victims at school

The young victims were together at Oasis Academy John Williams secondary school when they were in Year 11 and were preparing to sit their GCSE exams this summer.

The school’s headteacher, Victoria Boomer-Clark, told Sky News everyone was rallying to support other students and staff.

He said: “I remember trying to get ready for Monday morning and my memories now show how incredibly strong our young people were and how we had a real sense of community.

“Unbeknownst to us, the young people had arranged to stand guard on the playground during recess on the first Monday. Hundreds of young people and our staff were gathering silently.”

Mrs Boomer-Clark said the children would be attending the school dance this summer.

“We had a red-lit wall for Mason and Liverpool football club and a blue-lit wall for Park Knowle Football Club,” he said. “The year group came together and supported each other through that.”

Detective had never seen ‘horrifying’ weapons before

Murders have happened before New law passed banning the use of zombie-style knives and machetes.

Detective Superintendent Haskins said: “The weapons used in the attack on Mason and Max were simply horrific.

“I have never seen in my services a weapon like the one used against these two boys.

“For whatever reason, there is no place for this type of weapon in society.”

The detective praised the child’s families who attended court throughout the hearing.

She added: “I am so embarrassed by the families involved in this investigation. They were in court every day, they saw things in court that no parent should ever be exposed to.”

Snook will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on November 19.

The other 4 defendants will be sentenced on December 16, after the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Police continue to investigate the Hartcliffe house attack and search for those responsible.

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