Gang of ‘animals’ facing life sentences for murdering two boys with machetes

A pack of 5 who murdered 2 teenage boys with machetes successful a lawsuit of mistaken individuality person been branded “animals” by their grieving families.

Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16, died from stab wounds aft being chased by 4 equipped teenagers connected January 27 this twelvemonth successful the Knowle West country of Bristol.

Riley Tolliver, 18, a 16-year-old boy, a 17-year-old lad and getaway operator Antony Snook, 45, were recovered blameworthy of the murders of Mason and Max aft a six-week proceedings astatine Bristol Crown Court.

A 15-year-old lad was besides recovered blameworthy of the execution of Max aft antecedently pleading blameworthy to the execution of Mason.

Speaking extracurricular court, Mason’s uncle David Knight praised the constabulary for their investigation.

“They promised america close astatine the opening that they would bash everything successful their powerfulness and they have. They’ve got them,” helium said.

“These animals took distant a son, a brother, a nephew, an uncle, and a grandchild.”

Mr Knight described his household arsenic a “big jigsaw puzzle” who would person to “navigate the remainder of our lives” without Mason.

“Mason was a monolithic portion of that jigsaw puzzle and fundamentally that portion of puzzle has present been destroyed and volition ne'er beryllium replaced,” helium said.

“He volition ever beryllium successful our hearts. Mason was a existent quiet, quiescent lad who wouldn’t wounded a fly. He was truthful loving and caring.

“We indispensable present navigate the remainder of our lives without our puzzle piece.”

Max’s parent Leanne Ekland added: “The past six weeks person been emotionally draining.

“Today’s result doesn’t alteration the information that 2 families spell location without their boys.

“I privation we didn’t person to beryllium present contiguous but we’ve got immoderate benignant of justness for our boys.”

Tolliver and the 3 boys, who cannot beryllium named for ineligible reasons, had been driven to and from Knowle West by Snook arsenic portion of a revenge mission.

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

Around an hr aft that attack, Snook near the spot with 2 of the boys and picked up the different 2 successful a adjacent thoroughfare earlier heading to Knowle West.

The Audi Q2 was driven astir Knowle West for astatine slightest 12 minutes earlier the attack, the assemblage was told.

Snook drove down Ilminster Avenue erstwhile they saw Mason and Max successful the thoroughfare arsenic they went for a pizza – wrongly believing they had spotted those liable for the attack.

Ray Tully KC, prosecuting, told the jury: “They were wholly incorrect astir that. Max and Mason had perfectly thing to bash with immoderate earlier incidental and nary transportation whatsoever with those events.”

Tolliver, who had a shot bat, and the 3 teenagers equipped with machetes jumped retired of the car and chased aft the 2 boys.

Max and Mason are seen going to antithetic sides of the street, each pursued by 2 radical from the vehicle.

Tolliver and the 15-year-old lad attacked Mason portion the 16-year-old lad and 17-year-old lad chased Max.

The 17-year-old lad besides struck Mason, who was lying injured connected the ground, arsenic helium headed backmost to the Audi aft attacking Max.

I americium humbled by the families’ strength, courageousness and dignity they person shown passim this trial

Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins

A CCTV camera connected Mason’s adjacent location captured however the onslaught lasted conscionable 33 seconds from the car pulling up to the teenagers getting backmost successful and leaving.

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

Snook, a one-legged scenery gardener, drove the teenagers from the country and dropped them disconnected successful Knowle West.

A occurrence was lit successful a backmost plot and items linked to the onslaught disposed of.

Snook volition beryllium sentenced connected November 19 portion the different 4 volition beryllium sentenced connected December 16 pursuing the mentation of reports.

Trial justice Mrs Justice May remanded each 5 into custody.

Speaking aft the verdicts, Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins, elder investigating officer, said Max and Mason had been going for a pizza erstwhile they were attacked.

“I americium humbled by the families’ strength, courageousness and dignity they person shown passim this trial,” helium said.

“Family members person been successful tribunal each azygous time and person heard things nary loved 1 should hear.

“These 5 radical went retired that nighttime to question revenge and thing volition ever warrant their actions against 2 boys who are truthful beauteous and innocent.”

Vicky Cook, from the CPS, added: “Today’s verdicts service arsenic a reminder that the carrying of knives and different bladed weapons tin lone pb to tragedy.”