Bristol stabbing: Youths accused of murdering teenage boys remanded into custody

Tributes left in memory of the two teenagers who were stabbed to death on 27 January. Credit: Avon and Somerset Police/ PA

Two youths accused of murdering Bristol teenagers Mason Rist and Max Dixon have been remanded into custody.

The male defendants, aged 15 and 16, appeared separately at Bristol Youth Court on 2 February, jointly charged with murdering the two boys.

The pair spoke only to confirm their names, ages and addresses during brief hearings. They did not enter pleas to the two charges they face.

They sat in the well of the court with an appropriate adult and social worker nearby.

District Judge Lynne Matthews remanded the youths into custody and ordered them to appear at Bristol Crown Court on Monday 5 February.

Mason Rist (left) and Max Dixon were stabbed in Knowle West, Bristol and later died in hospital

“You will be remanded into youth detention accommodation,” she added.

Mason, 15, and Max, 16, were stabbed following an incident in Ilminster Avenue, Knowle West, Bristol on the evening of 27 January.

Local residents went to help the teenagers and police were on the scene within minutes to provide first aid.

The boys were taken by ambulance to Southmead Hospital and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, where they died in the early hours of Sunday.

Earlier, two men were remanded into custody when they appeared separately at Bristol Magistrates’ Court accused of two charges of assisting an offender.

They are alleged to have impeded the police in apprehending the two youths accused of murdering Mason and Max.

Jamie Ogbourne, 26, of Bishport Avenue, Bristol and Bailey Westcott, 22, of Vowell Close, Bristol were ordered to appear at Bristol Crown Court on March 8.

Anthony Snook, of Dowling Road, Hartcliffe, Bristol, appeared before Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 1 February. Credit: Elizabeth Cook

At Bristol Crown Court on Friday, a trial date was set by Judge Peter Blair KC, The Recorder of Bristol, for Anthony Snook, who is also accused of murdering the boys.

Snook, 44, of Dowling Road, Hartcliffe, Bristol, was excused attendance for the short hearing.

The judge fixed a trial date of 7 October and remanded Snook into custody.

Detectives later said a 17-year-old boy was in custody after being arrested on suspicion of murder.

In addition, a 42-year-old woman previously arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, has been released on conditional bail.

Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins, who is leading the investigation, said: “The families of Mason and Max have been updated on all the latest developments in our ongoing investigation, and we’ll continue to ensure they have all the support they need through specialist liaison officers.

“Now court proceedings are under way, it’s even more important to remind people that posting speculation, footage and images on social media could jeopardise the forthcoming judicial process, while also causing further upset to Mason’s and Max’s families.”