Driver unaware teens were armed before fatal revenge attack, murder trial told

Four equipped teenagers kept their weapons hidden from the operator who is accused of taking them to and from the country of a revenge onslaught wherever 2 boys were allegedly murdered, a assemblage has been told.

Antony Snook, 45, is accused of driving Riley Tolliver, 18, and 3 boys aged 15, 16 and 17 to and from the country of the alleged murders successful Bristol.

Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16, died from stab wounds soon aft leaving Mason’s location connected Ilminster Avenue successful the Knowle West country connected January 27 this year, Bristol Crown Court heard.

The 2 boys had been wrongly identified arsenic being liable for bricks being thrown astatine a location successful the neighbouring Hartcliffe territory earlier that evening.

In a closing speech, Adam Vaitilingam KC, representing Snook, asked the assemblage for what crushed his lawsuit would impact himself successful a revenge attack.

“What is the likelihood of him agreeing to instrumentality portion successful the attack? He is not a pack member. He is not progressive successful tit-for-tat betwixt Hartcliffe and Knowle West,” Mr Vaitilingam said.

“There is thing you cognize astir him to suggest helium would privation to get into his car and thrust to Knowle West with his car seen connected ANPR cameras to get progressive successful convulsive retribution.

“He said to the constabulary astir his car being seen connected ANPR cameras. He is not an idiot.

“What is the grounds that Mr Snook knew the 4 defendants were carrying weapons and knew they were readying connected utilizing them?”

Mr Vaitilingam said the CCTV signaling 2 of the defendants leaving the spot successful Hartcliffe with Snook and walking to his car did not amusement either them carrying weapons.

“We suggest it is beauteous evident they are not carrying those weapons successful their hands,” helium said.

“The inference is that they are hidden amongst their clothing. Who are they hiding these weapons from?

“We don’t cognize due to the fact that they person not fixed evidence, and I person not been capable to inquire them.

“The astir apt idiosyncratic they are hiding them from is Mr Snook due to the fact that they knew oregon suspected that if helium knew they were carrying those weapons helium would say, ‘No mode americium I going to instrumentality them wherever’.

“What is the grounds that helium knew? The grounds suggests they were hidden and, we suggest, that is the astir apt crushed helium does not spot them.”

Snook had told the assemblage helium thought helium was driving his 4 co-accused successful his Audi Q2 car to a harmless location pursuing the onslaught connected the Hartcliffe property.

He said helium near that location with 2 of the teenagers and past picked up the different 2 connected a adjacent street.

Mr Vaitilingam suggested those 2 were besides hiding their weapons erstwhile they were collected.

“Is it apt they were lasting determination connected the broadside of the roadworthy with their weapons successful their hands?” helium asked.

“It is overmuch much apt they would person them stashed successful their clothing.

“Is it apt that Mr Snook saw those weapons erstwhile these boys got into the car?”

The barrister added: “We would suggest determination is thing successful the prosecution lawsuit that tin marque you definite that helium knew those weapons were successful the car.”

A CCTV camera connected Mason’s location captured however the onslaught lasted conscionable 33 seconds – including the Audi stopping, 4 teenagers allegedly jumping out, attacking the 2 friends, returning to the car and it driving off.

Mr Vaitilingam suggested the prosecution had not made the assemblage definite that Snook had seen the attacks connected the 2 boys.

“At the clip the onslaught is happening connected Mason, Mr Snook is astir 100 metres away,” helium said.

“There are parked cars, a van, and the Range Rover approaching and overtaking him.

“I cannot accidental for definite that helium didn’t spot it, but the prosecution person not done that analysis.

“We conscionable inquire you erstwhile you deliberation astir it, is it beauteous apt that helium didn’t spot the onslaught upon Mason?

“It is not conscionable realistic that helium saw immoderate of the onslaught upon Mason.

“The aforesaid is existent of the onslaught connected Max. It is rather intolerable to accidental that Mr Snook saw the onslaught connected Max oregon should person seen it.

“Seeing radical moving successful the roadworthy is not the aforesaid arsenic seeing radical stabbed. There is nary ground for prosecution saying that helium saw Max and Mason stabbed.”

Mason and Max sustained fatal stab injuries and some died successful infirmary successful the aboriginal hours of January 28.

The 15-year-old lad connected proceedings has admitted murdering Mason but denies murdering Max. The 17-year-old lad has admitted manslaughter relating to Max but denies murdering Max and Mason.

Snook, Tolliver, the 16-year-old lad and the 17-year-old lad are charged with murdering Mason, unneurotic with the 15-year-old boy, connected January 27 this year.

Snook, Tolliver and the 3 teenage boys are charged with murdering Max connected the aforesaid date.