Murderer jailed for stabbing teen hours before killings

A boy has been sentenced to four years in prison after stabbing a 17-year-old just hours before he murdered two teenagers.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday after admitting stabbing the teenager in the Bishopsworth area of Bristol on 27 January 2024.

The attack occurred just hours before he - alongside a group of others - went on to murder Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16, in Knowle West, in a separate case of mistaken identity.

The boy is already serving a life sentence for the murders of Max and Mason and the new sentence will run concurrently, with a further three years on license.

Judge Peter Blair KC said the circumstances of the Bishopsworth attack were "horrific".

The victim, who was aged 17 at the time, had been driving a Toyota Aygo with some passengers to McDonalds when he "took a wrong turn".

"He turned down a road that he hadn't intended to find himself on and there you were and flagged the car down," Judge Blair said.

"Once he had opened the window, you set about trying to stab him through the driver's window with a fearsome and highly dangerous weapon."

The victim's life plans have been "drastically affected" by the attack, in which he sustained stab wounds to the arm and leg, and cuts to his right hand and middle finger which have left him with damage to his tendons and nerves.

He required surgery on his hand to treat his injuries.

After stabbing the victim, the 16-year-old began hitting the car windows with the knife, before the victim was able to leave the scene, the court heard.

Judge Blair said: "The potential outcome in that car is hard to imagine but for him managing to get away from you.

"Quite what was in your mind is almost impossible to imagine.

"I consider that you are dangerous. There can be no other conclusion."

The defendant was sentenced for grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife.

The judge did not impose a separate penalty for the charge of criminal damage, relating to the victim's car.

James Haskell, prosecuting, said there was "no connection" between the defendant and the victim.

"As he approached the junction, he saw a person come from underneath the bridge wearing a balaclava and waving him down," Mr Haskell explained.

"He said he saw the defendant remove something from his waistband which turned out to be a large knife."

Avon and Somerset Police recovered a large Rambo-style knife from a property connected to the attack on Max and Mason.

Blood on the weapon matched that of the 17-year-old victim and the defendant's DNA was found on the handle.

The defendant was subsequently arrested and answered "no comment" to questions during his police interview.

Mr Haskell said he had been given a referral order after being convicted of possessing a kitchen knife in August 2021, when he was aged 13, and for possessing a knuckle duster in June 2022.

Ramin Pakrooh, defending, said his client had been in a period of "behavioural decline" when he committed the offence and double murders.

He said that the defendant had appeared to have "flourished" since spending time in custody, adding that he has "taken the opportunity for education with both hands".

Mr Pakrooh also added that an order banning the publication of anything that would identify the defendant should not be lifted, as it would link him to the murders of Max and Mason.

Mrs Justice May previously ruled that the youth should not be named in relation to those proceedings until he is 18-years-old.

Antony Snook, 45, Riley Tolliver, 18, Kodi-Shai Westcott, 17 and a 15-year-old boy were jailed for their involvement in the murders in December.

Max and Mason died from stab wounds after being attacked outside Mason's home on Ilminster Avenue in Knowle West on 27 January 2024.

Bailey Westcott, 23, of Whitchurch, and Jamie Ogbourne, 27, of Hartcliffe, were also jailed in December after admitting two counts each of assisting an offender.

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