Sister of murder victim brings his ashes into court as teen gang detained for total of 79 years

UK

Four teenagers who murdered two boys in Bristol in a case of mistaken identity have been detained for life.

Riley Tolliver, 18, a 16-year-old boy, a 17-year-old boy, and getaway driver Antony Snook, 45, were convicted of the murders of Mason Rist, 15, and 16-year-old Max Dixon in November.

A 15-year-old boy was also found guilty of the murder of Max after previously pleading guilty to the murder of Mason.

Tolliver was jailed for life at Bristol Crown Court today and will serve at least 23 years and 47 days.

The 16-year-old boy was detained for life, and will serve at least 18 years and 44 days.

The 15-year-old was also handed a life sentence, and given a minimum term of 15 years and 229 days.

The judge also handed the 17-year-old a life sentence, with a minimum term of 23 years and 44 days.

Mrs Justice May told the 15-year-old and 16-year-old youths as she sentenced them: “The boys you killed were Mason Rist and Max Dixon. They were your age. They had done nothing wrong.

“Max and Mason’s families must go on without them in a different way. Your lives will change too. As Mason’s sister said, there are no winners here.”

Earlier, Chloe Rist, Mason’s sister, brought his ashes into court and held them as she read a victim impact statement to his killers before they were sentenced.

At the end of her statement, she told them: “This is Mason’s ashes and this is what you’ve done. If anyone is upset about me bringing them to court today, that is all I have left of him.”

Snook, who acted as a getaway driver for the killers, was jailed for 38 years last month.

Antony Snook
Pic::Avon and Somerset Police/PA
Image:
Antony Snook. Pic: Avon and Somerset Police/PA

Riley Tolliver
Pic: Avon and Somerset Police/PA
Image:
Riley Tolliver. Pic: Avon and Somerset Police/PA

During the trial, Bristol Crown Court heard how the group wrongly believed their victims, who had gone out to get pizza, were behind an attack on a house with bricks in the Hartcliffe area of the city earlier in the evening of Saturday 27 January.

Max and Mason were chased and attacked with weapons, including machetes, a bat, and a sword.

Mason Rist and Max Dixon.
Pic: Avon and Somerset Police/PA
Image:
Mason Rist and Max Dixon. Pic: Avon and Somerset Police/PA

The boys suffered “instant severe blood loss” after being stabbed and died of their wounds later that night in the Knowle West area.

The 33-second attack on the two boys was captured by a CCTV camera on Mason’s house.

The court heard the victims “had absolutely nothing to do with any earlier incident”.

Mason Rist and  Max Dixon
Pic: Handout/Avon and Somerset Police
Image:
Mason Rist and Max Dixon. Pic: Handout/Avon and Somerset Police

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