The murder investigation of two best friends, Max Dixon and Mason Rist, who were fatally stabbed in a case of mistaken identity, has led to the sentencing of four teenagers and a 45-year-old man. The shocking attack had a lasting impact on the communities of South Bristol who were horrified by the crime, including those involved in the investigation. Det Supt Gary Haskins, head of the major crime investigation team, described the case as one that will “live with me and my colleagues for the rest of our careers and lives”.
The murder of the two boys, aged 16 and 15 respectively, took place only yards from Mason’s front door and was carried out with machetes on Saturday 27 January. The boys were murdered by four teenagers who were seeking revenge for a separate incident in Hartcliffe, which Max and Mason had nothing to do with. Anthony Snook, 45, from Hartcliffe, drove the teenagers around Knowle West to target an innocent victim, and was sentenced to a minimum of 38 years in prison last month. The teenagers were detained for minimum terms ranging from 15 to 23 years.
Det Supt Haskins received the call about the stabbing on a Sunday morning and took the lead on the investigation the following Monday. His colleagues had been on the scene within minutes and had even managed to detain one suspect within an hour. The subsequent trial lasted six weeks at Bristol Crown Court, where the five defendants were all found guilty of murder. Det Supt Haskins explained that the boys were tracked down through “good old fashioned detective work”, CCTV analysis, help from the community, and association charts.
As a parent himself, Det Supt Haskins expressed concern about the broader societal implications of youth violence and remains committed to his role in preventing future tragedies. He worries about the future but sees an opportunity for the police, paramedics, and emergency services to leave a positive legacy by working together to prevent such crimes. Despite the sentencing, there are “countless families damaged for life that can never recover from this incident,” said Det Supt Haskins, adding that there are no winners in this case
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