Nine charged in court in connection with fatal stabbing of teenagers

Nine people have appeared in court in connection with the deaths of two teenage boys who were fatally stabbed in Bristol.

Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16, were attacked on the evening of January 27 in Ilminster Avenue, in the Knowle West area of ​​Bristol.

Local residents went to help the teenagers, described as best friends, and police arrived within minutes to provide first aid.

They were taken by ambulance to Southmead Hospital and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, where they died in the early hours of the next day.

On Friday, nine people – five adults and four young people – appeared before Mrs Justice May at Winchester Crown Court.

The four youths – two boys aged 15 and two boys aged 16 and 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons – are accused, along with Anthony Snook, 44, of Hartcliffe, Bristol, of the murder of Mason and Max.

Jamie Ogbourne, 26, of Bishport Avenue, Bailey Westcott, 22, of Vowell Close, Jillian Tolliver, 49, of Hartcliffe, all of Bristol, and Kristian Hooper, 46, of Weston-super-Mare, each face two charges of assisting an offender.

Mrs Justice May adjourned the case for a further hearing, which will take place at Bristol Crown Court on June 7.

Family members of both Max and Mason were present in the courtroom Friday.

After their deaths they paid tribute to the boys, describing them as ‘best friends’.

Mason’s family described him as a “precious son, brother, grandson, nephew, uncle, cousin and friend to many.”

Max’s mother Leanne Ekland, sisters Jade, Kayleigh and Jasmine Dixon, and Mrs Ekland’s partner Trevor Silk, said Max was “so loved”.

The case will next be heard at Bristol Crown Court on June 6 at 2pm. A provisional trial date of October 7 had previously been set.