News / Crime
Five people convicted of murdering Max and Mason in case of mistaken identity
Sixteen-year-old Max Dixon and 15-year-old Mason Rist were killed in Knowle West in a case of mistaken identity after wrongly being singled out for throwing bricks at a house in Hartcliffe that same night in January.
The best friends were stabbed multiple times on Ilminster Avenue, with five people now convicted of their murder following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.
Antony Snook, 45, of Dowling Road in Hartcliffe, Riley Tolliver, 18, of Holts Way in Weston-super-Mare, and two boys, aged 16 and 17, had all denied murder. A 15-year-old boy admitted murdering Mason but denied killing Max. The jury, however, found each of them guilty of both murders.
is needed now More than ever
Snook will be sentenced on November 19 with the four teenagers due to be sentenced on December 16, with all five remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.
A further trial will be held in 2025 for individuals charged with assisting an offender.
Mason and Max were murdered on Ilminster Avenue in Knowle West – photo: Martin Booth
The jury heard that at 11pm on Saturday, January 27, Snook drove all four teenagers from Hartcliffe to Knowle West, with the four teens “tooled up” with “fearsome weapons”.
Ray Tully, for the prosecution, described the group as a “pack” who were “hunting down two boys” and they “each played their part”.
Tully said: “Snook drove the four teenagers who were armed to the teeth to Ilminster Avenue. They were sharking around for those they think are responsible for the earlier attack.”
Max had called at Mason’s home on Ilminster Avenue at around 11.15pm and the friends were walking up the road when their attackers saw them, thinking they were responsible for the earlier brick-throwing incident in Hartcliffe.
“However, they were entirely wrong,” Tully said. “Max and Mason had absolutely nothing to do with any earlier incident.”
Snook turned his car around and the four teenagers jumped out, chasing Max and Mason and stabbed them multiple times.
The car was then driven by Snook back to Hartcliffe before the four teens got out the car at two locations.
Avon & Somerset Police senior investigating officer, detective superintendent Gary Haskins, said: “These five people went out that night to seek revenge, and nothing will ever justify their actions against two boys who are so beautiful and innocent.”
A tribute to Mason and Max in Knowle West – photo: Mia Vines Booth
In a statement, Mason’s family said: “Our family is like a jigsaw puzzle and, with the loss of Mason, it is like a part of our jigsaw is gone forever and will never be complete.
“Mason was a quiet boy who would never hurt a fly. He was just so lovely and innocent.
“It is impossible to put into words how we feel. This whole process has been incredibly hard and hearing what we have heard, what happened to him, it is horrible to think about Mason’s last moments.
“These dangerous individuals took away our son, brother, nephew, uncle and grandchild and we must now navigate the rest of our lives without our missing puzzle piece.
“From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank everyone worked so hard on this case. The investigation team for being so hard working and dedicated, we appreciate it wasn’t easy working endless hours and under pressure but it is because of you we got this result.
“The family wouldn’t have been able to get through this unbearable time without having the best family liaison officers assigned to us. They have gone above and beyond to ensure we are always updated, guided and supported throughout this awful process.”
In a statement, Max’s family said: “Max was a big character with a happy and joyful look on life.
“He was funny, kind and caring. He was a huge part of the family and was very popular among his friends. He was full of life and had such a cheeky side, but was always respectful.
“The past six weeks have been emotionally draining. 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.
“Max and Mason have known each other since nursery school and have always been in the same classes. We often joked it was a funny friendship as they were both so different but they bounced off each other and brought out the best in each other.
“We will miss everything about him. We are broken without him but he would want us to carry on and he wouldn’t want anyone to be down.
“We need to thank everyone that’s been involved in our case. We have so much respect for the hard work, dedication and support to our families.
“There are no words to express how thankful we are to everyone. We will be forever grateful to them.”
Main photos: family
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