Five convicted for mistaken identity murders of two teenagers

A man and four teenagers have been found guilty of the murders of two close friends, who were killed due to a case of mistaken identity. Mason Rist, aged 15, and Max Dixon, aged 16, suffered fatal stab wounds from machetes on 27 January, near Mason’s residence in Knowle West, Bristol. The two boys were pursued by the four teenagers, who were armed and seeking retribution for an assault on a property in Hartcliffe, an incident with which Max and Mason were entirely unconnected. Antony Snook, 45, is scheduled for sentencing on 19 November, whereas Riley Tolliver, 18, along with three boys aged 17, 16, and 15, will receive their sentences on 16 December. Snook, a resident of Hartcliffe, Bristol, Tolliver, and the 17 and 16-year-old defendants had pleaded not guilty to both murder charges. The 15-year-old boy confessed to Mason’s murder but denied Max’s killing. Nevertheless, a jury comprising nine men and three women at Bristol Crown Court deliberated for 18 hours and 45 minutes before convicting the group of both murders. When the jury foreman delivered the verdicts, none of the accused displayed any visible response from the dock. Relatives of Mason and Max, present in the public gallery, wept upon the announcement of the guilty verdicts. Other family members expressed their reactions with cheers and by punching the air. Outside the courthouse, Leanne Ekland, Max’s mother, stated: “Today’s outcome doesn’t change the fact that two families go home without their boys.“But we can now hopefully begin to process and remember them both and the happy memories both families have of Max and Mason.” In an interview with the BBC, the mothers of the boys conveyed that their sons were lost to them in a manner that permanently altered their lives. David Knight, Mason’s uncle, described his nephew as “so loving and caring”. He articulated that their family would never feel whole again following his death. He added, “He will always be in our hearts.” He remarked, “These animals took away a son, a brother, a nephew, an uncle, and a grandchild.” Throughout the trial proceedings, the court was informed that Max and Mason each sustained fatal stab wounds inflicted by two machetes. One of the implements employed had a blade measuring 42cm (16.5in) in length, and another measured 41cm (16in). The jury heard that Max and Mason had been mistakenly identified as the individuals responsible for throwing bricks at a residence in the adjacent Hartcliffe area earlier on the same evening. Ray Tully KC informed the court that the five defendants had departed from Hartcliffe, proceeding towards Knowle West “hell-bent on revenge”. Snook operated his vehicle along Ilminster Avenue, and upon observing Mason and Max in the thoroughfare, the group erroneously concluded they had identified the perpetrators of the assault. Mr Tully further stated: “They were entirely wrong about that. Max and Mason had absolutely nothing to do with any earlier incident and no connection whatsoever with those events.” Snook asserted that he “didn’t know” the teenagers intended to kill the boys when he transported them to the vicinity in his Audi Q2. Mr Tully indicated that the four younger defendants were all carrying weapons and contended that all five individuals bore responsibility for the deaths, a point the jury concurred with. Throughout the trial, surveillance footage recorded from Mason’s residence was presented to the jury. The footage depicted the Audi reducing its speed as it drove past Max arriving at Mason’s home on Ilminster Avenue just after 23:00 BST on Saturday evening. Subsequently, the vehicle exited the camera’s view, and Max and Mason departed the house in unison. Moments later, the identical camera recorded the Audi’s return, with four individuals exiting and pursuing the boys along the street, prior to causing the fatal injuries during an assault that spanned 33 seconds. Community members quickly went to Max and Mason, who had collapsed in the street, attempting to provide aid before the arrival of paramedics. The two friends passed away in hospital within 15 minutes of one another during the early hours of Sunday. Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins, who leads Avon and Somerset Police’s major crime investigation team, commented: “These were two boys going about their business just out being friends.” He added, “They were cut down in the prime of their lives. They must have been absolutely petrified.” He continued, “They were attacked for no reason whatsoever by individuals they didn’t know.” He explained, “Unfortunately in the course of running away from their attackers they sustained injuries… so severe sadly they succumbed to those injuries. They were unsurvivable injuries.” Det Supt Haskins stated that Snook was apprehended and taken into custody within 59 minutes of the assault on Max and Mason. He remarked, “He [Snook] was the adult who could have changed the course of this incident. “He’s the one that could have stopped this from happening.” He further noted: “These individuals, as a collective, went after those two boys.“They armed themselves together, they travelled together, they travelled back from the attack together, and they were intent on causing harm to whoever they came across.” Several hours following the assault, one of the teenagers was captured on CCTV footage returning to a residence in Hartcliffe, carrying a McDonald’s meal. Det Supt Haskins commented, “Chillingly for me, what we do know is they even stopped off at McDonald’s after attacking those two boys.” He concluded, “I think it speaks volumes really. Two beautiful boys lost their lives, and they went to McDonald’s for an early morning breakfast.” For updates, follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. 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