Connect with us

Published

on

Four teenagers and a 45-year-old man have been found guilty of murdering two boys, aged 15 and 16, who were attacked with machetes in a case of mistaken identity.

The convictions follow a five-week trial at Bristol Crown Court.

The jury heard how Max Dixon and Mason Rist were killed in a case of mistaken identity on 27 January, after being wrongly identified as being responsible for a house attack in the Hartcliffe area of the city earlier that evening.

Antony Snook, 45, Riley Tolliver, 18, and three boys aged 15, 16 and 17 were all on trial each charged with two counts of murder.

Mason Rist and Max Dixon were stabbed in January this year. Pic: Family handout via Avon and Somerset Police/PA
Image:
Mason Rist and Max Dixon were stabbed in January this year. Pic: Family handout via Avon and Somerset Police/PA

As the jury foreman returned the guilty verdicts, none of the defendants showed any reaction from the dock, as they sat impassively and stared straight ahead.

The fatal stabbings in Knowle West lasted just 33 seconds – with both boys suffering what the court heard were “unsurvivable” injuries and “instant severe blood loss”.

Both died in hospital in the early hours of 28 January.

CCTV shown in court allegedly shows the 16 and 17-year-olds minutes after the attack wit a large knife
Image:
CCTV shown in court allegedly shows the 16 and 17-year-olds minutes after the attack with a large knife

Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins, the case’s senior investigating officer from Avon and Somerset Police, told Sky News that Max and Mason had nothing to do with the house attack.

“Those boys were not known to their attackers, they were best friends, two beautiful children just going about their lives and attacked for no reason whatsoever,” he said.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins
Image:
Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins

Much of the prosecution’s case was based on CCTV and doorbell videos, including a camera on Mason’s own house which captured footage of the knife attack against him.

The pair were seen leaving Mason’s home at around 11.15pm and were going for a pizza.

Prosecutor Ray Tully KC told the jury that the boys were set upon by the group who had been travelling in Snook’s Audi Q2.

He said the group were “out for revenge”, “acting as a pack” to hunt down those responsible and “tooled up” with fearsome weapons.

After the attackers fled, Max and Mason were left bleeding in the street.

The investigation involved more than 230 police officers and staff – with thousands of pieces of evidence analysed.

CCTV of the actual attack was shown in court this week
Image:
CCTV of the actual attack was shown in court previously

Five people, Antony Snook, 45, Riley Tolliver, 18, and three boys aged 15, 16 and 17, were all accused of the murders
Image:
Five people – Antony Snook, 45, Riley Tolliver, 18, and three boys aged 15, 16 and 17 – were all accused of the murders

Hundreds mourned victims at school

The teenage victims were in year 11 together at the Oasis Academy John Williams secondary school and were preparing to sit their GCSEs this summer.

The school’s headteacher Victoria Boomer-Clark told Sky News that everyone rallied to support fellow pupils and staff.

She said: “After the boys were tragically murdered, for us first and foremost we were thinking about the families and how they were coping with the absolute tragedy and shock of that.

“I can remember trying to prepare for that Monday morning and my memories now are how exceptionally strong our young people are and how we have a real sense of community.

“Unbeknownst to us the young people had arranged to hold a vigil on the playground during breaktime on that first Monday. We had hundreds of young people and staff coming together in silence.”

Ms Boomer-Clark said the boys would have attended school prom this summer.

“We had a wall that was lit up in red for Mason and Liverpool football club and a wall in blue for Park Knowle Football Club,” she said. “The year group came together and supported each other through it.”

Oasis Academy John Williams headteacher Victoria Boomer-Clark
Image:
Oasis Academy John Williams headteacher Victoria Boomer-Clark

Detective had never seen ‘horrific’ weapons before

The murders came before a new law was introduced banning ownership of zombie-style knives and machetes.

Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins said: “The weapons used in the attack on Mason and Max were simply horrific.

“I’ve been a detective for many, many years and I’ve had the misfortune of investigating some serious offences.

“In all my service I’ve not seen a weapon like the one we saw used on those two boys.

“There is no place for a weapon of that type in society for any reason whatsoever.”

One of the knives recovered ONLY USE IN CASE OF GUILTY VERDICT
Image:
One of the knives recovered

One of the knives recovered ONLY USE IN CASE OF GUILTY VERDICT
Image:
One of the knives recovered

The detective praised the boy’s families, who attended court throughout the trial.

He added: “I’m humbled by the families involved in this investigation. They’ve been at court every day, they’ve seen things at court that no parent should ever be exposed to. They saw the attacks on their children, but they maintain their dignity, their courage and their love for their family.

“How can you replace what they’ve lost? They’ve lost two beautiful sons, and I can only hope that the verdicts will bring some form of closure. It will never close completely.”

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Snook will be sentenced on 19 November at Bristol Crown Court.

The other four defendants will be sentenced on 16 December following the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Police are continuing to investigate the Hartcliffe house attack and search for those responsible.

Continue Reading

UK

Minister’s ‘anger’ at tech companies – as bosses could face prison if kids see harmful content

Published

on

By

Minister's 'anger' at tech companies - as bosses could face prison if kids see harmful content

Social media companies must face tough sanctions if they fail to keep children safe from harmful content, the technology secretary has said.

Speaking exclusively to Sky News, Peter Kyle said age verification for adult material would have to be “watertight”, and that apps which do not protect children will face heavy fines and even jail time for company bosses.

He was talking ahead of new requirements, to be announced by the regulator Ofcom in mid-January, for platforms to protect children from a wide range of harmful content including bullying, violence, and dangerous stunts.

Apps for adults only will also be required to introduce tighter age verification, via a credit card or ID.

Mr Kyle said: “If they allow the children who are under the age that is appropriate, to view content, then they can face heavy fines and, in some circumstances, they’ll face prison sentences.

“This is the kind of direction of travel you’re going to have with me because I want to make sure kids are kept safe. These are not rules and powers that I’m bringing in just to sit on a shelf.

“These are powers that we’re bringing in for a purpose. At the moment, I accept that parents don’t believe that their kids are safe online because too often they’re not.”

More on Labour

‘Not enough research’

Mr Kyle said he was “in admiration of what these companies have created” and that lots of organisations, including the government, could learn from the tech sector.

But he added: “I do have a real deep frustration and yes, that could be called anger when it comes to the fact that not enough research has been produced about the impact their products have.

“If I was producing a product that was going to be used ubiquitously throughout society that I knew that children as young as five are going to be accessing it, I would want to be pretty certain that it’s not having a negative impact on young people.”

Tamara Cohen and Peter Kyle
Image:
Peter Kyle said age verification for adult material would have to be ‘watertight’

The Online Safety Act was passed in October 2023 and is being implemented in stages. It will allow companies to be fined up to £18m, or 10% of turnover as well as criminal charges.

In December, the regulator Ofcom set out which content is illegal – including sexual exploitation, fraud and drug and weapons offences.

Could UK follow Australia?

The Australian government has announced it will ban under-16s from most social media altogether, which some campaigners are calling for the UK to follow.

Mr Kyle said he has no plans for one at this stage, as he met a group of teenagers from across the country at the NSPCC children’s charity to talk about their experiences online.

Some mentioned the “addictiveness” of social media, and coming across “distressing” content. But all were against a ban, highlighting the positives for learning, and of online communities.

Read more:
School smartphone ban will not become law
Parents tell Ofcom to ‘step up’ over social media content

The UK chief medical officers reviewed the evidence on harm to children from “screen-based activities” – including social media and gaming – in 2019.

Their report found associations with anxiety and depression, but not enough evidence to prove a causal link. It backed a minimum age of 13 for using these apps.

But the technology secretary has commissioned more research to look at the issue again by next summer, as countries including France and Norway have raised the minimum age to 14 or 15.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

More social media restrictions for under-16s?

Children ‘getting dopamine hits’

Ofcom research last year found nearly a quarter of five-to-seven-year-olds have their own smartphone, with two in five using messaging services such as WhatsApp despite it having a minimum age of 13.

By the time they are 11, more than 90 percent of children have a smartphone.

Lee Fernandes, a psychotherapist specialising in addiction, told Sky News at his London clinic that he has been increasingly treating screen addiction in young adults, some of whose problems began in their teenage years.

“In the last five years, I’ve seen a big increase in addictions relating to technology,” he said.

“I think everyone just thinks it’s mindless scrolling, but we’re habituating children’s minds to be stimulated from using these phones and they’re getting these hits of dopamine, these rewards.”

Social media companies privately say teenagers use over 50 apps a week and argue that app stores should develop a “one-stop shop” rather than ID checks for each individual app.

Some platforms already require teenagers to prove their age through a video selfie or ID check if they attempt to change their age to over-18.

There are also AI models being developed to detect under-18s pretending to be adults. Specific teen accounts by providers including Meta restrict certain messages and content.

Continue Reading

UK

Man who featured in viral video after being hit in groin during Southport riot is jailed

Published

on

By

Man who featured in viral video after being hit in groin during Southport riot is jailed

A man who was hit in the crotch by a flying brick during a riot in Southport has been jailed.

Brian Spencer was sentenced to two years and six months behind bars after pleading guilty to violent disorder at Liverpool Crown Court.

The unrest happened on 30 July, the day after a mass stabbing targeting children in the Merseyside town in which three young girls were killed. The riot was fuelled by online disinformation about the attack.

Footage shared widely on social media showed Spencer walking up to a line of riot police and putting his hands on his hips before gyrating in front of the officers.

The 40-year-old, from Southport, was then struck in the chest and head by bricks before turning around and walking back towards the crowd.

As he held his head, another brick hit him in the groin and he then hobbled away.

Brian Spencer. Pic: Merseyside Police
Image:
Pic: Merseyside Police

‘Throwing wheelie bins’

Merseyside Police said: “Spencer could be seen acting in an aggressive manner and part of a large group of people who were standing only a few yards in front of officers and throwing bricks.

“He could also be seen on footage punching a police vehicle several times and picking up and throwing wheelie bins at officers and carriers.”

The force also said that later that evening, officers were called to a separate incident where Spencer was, and took him to hospital to be treated for the head injury.

The officers recognised him from the viral footage and he was arrested.

Spencer ‘racially abused patient’

While receiving treatment for his injury, Spencer racially abused another patient at Southport Hospital, police said.

He was also jailed after admitting racially/religiously aggravated harassment.

Some 163 people have now been arrested by Merseyside Police in connection with the disorder, with 117 charges brought and 88 people sentenced to a total of 182 years and four months in prison between them.

Read more from Sky News:
‘Reckless’ man jailed after brandishing AK-47 in video
King breaks from tradition for annual Christmas message

‘Despicable scenes’

Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “The actions of the people who took part in the disorder were extremely serious and many officers were injured during the despicable scenes as bricks, bins and other missiles were thrown at them.

“Spencer was involved in the violence and will now spend a significant amount of time in prison.”

Continue Reading

UK

People who have experienced homelessness become walking tour guides – as rough sleeping crisis gets worse

Published

on

By

People who have experienced homelessness become walking tour guides - as rough sleeping crisis gets worse

The founder of an organisation which helps people affected by homelessness has told Sky News that Britain’s rough sleeping crisis is continuing to grow.

Zakia Moulaoui, who started Invisible Cities eight years ago, says many of the resources set up to help the homeless are also seeing their ability to help squeezed when they are needed most.

Invisible Cities is a community interest company that trains people who have experienced homelessness to become walking tour guides of their own city.

It encourages guides to offer personal tours, highlighting stories of real people and raising awareness of social justice.

Speaking at one of its training sessions in Manchester, Zakia said the Christmas period was often the hardest for those experiencing homelessness.

“Having started Invisible Cities in 2016 and compared to now, there’s definitely a rise in the number of people on that journey of homelessness, not only rough sleeping or street homeless, but at any one point in hostels, sofa surfing, in shelters and things like that,” she said.

“At the same time, organisations that exist to support people are more and more strained, funding is smaller and people are at capacity.”

More on Homelessness

What does the data say?

Figures released in November showed that, for the second year in a row, England reported an increase in rough sleeping.

The number was up 27% on the previous year.

The number of people sleeping rough is now 61% higher than it was 10 years ago, and 120% higher than when data collection began in 2010.

Stephen Agnew, who became homeless as a ten-year-old and spent three decades sleeping rough, now works as one of the Invisible Cities tour guides.
Image:
Stephen Agnew was made homeless as a 10-year-old

‘It’s been a rollercoaster ride’

Stephen Agnew, who became homeless as a 10-year-old and spent three decades sleeping rough, now works as one of the Invisible Cities tour guides.

He said: “It has been a rollercoaster ride, it has been ups and downs, but it has been amazing to come out the other end from where I was as a kid to become a tour guide and to get my own place.

“It is just such a different aspect to my childhood.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Homeless mum of three: ‘I have nowhere to go’

Invisible Cities currently works with guides in Manchester, York, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Cardiff and has plans to expand to more cities.

Its aim is to help build confidence and public speaking skills in guides and also offer tourists the chance to see a side of a city they otherwise might not have.

Sky News joined tour guide Andy Mercer for a walk around Manchester. After a period sleeping rough, he lived in a friend's garage before finding a way out of homelessness.
Image:
Andy Mercer

‘It helps if you have a goal’

Sky News joined tour guide Andy Mercer for a walk around Manchester.

After a period sleeping rough, he lived in a friend’s garage before finding a way out of homelessness.

He said: “It helps if you have a goal. If you really have nothing and somebody offers you an opportunity, then have a go.

“If you think you might be good at it, if you like talking to the public, then it might be worth having a go.”

As for the tourists he guides around Manchester, he said they “appreciate the fact that I seem to enjoy it because it brings back good memories”.

In his tours, he recounts his stories of the city’s nightlife scene from the 1980s onwards. He says he aims to draw attention to the link that often exists between alcoholism and homelessness.

Continue Reading

Trending