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The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
My shy boy, 15, popped out for pizza & was stabbed by thugs who thought he was someone else – my life was destroyed
NIKKI Knight never left her son Mason Rist home alone. But when the opportunity for a rare night out with friends came along in January 2024 she thought there would be no harm in leaving her 15-year-old for one evening. 8 8 8 She could never have imagined the horror that would meet her boy that night. Mason and his friend, Max Dixon, 16, were 'hunted down' and stabbed in a 'revenge attack' after being wrongly identified as culprits of an earlier incident. The two pals were on their way to get a pizza when Anthony Snook, 45, arrived in his Audi with Riley Tolliver, 18, Kodi Wescott, 17, and two teenagers, aged 15 and 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons. CCTV footage - from Nikki's house - captured the horrific 33 second attack which began when four youth jumped the pair on Mason's doorstep, just metres from his home in Knowle, Bristol. Nikki never left Mason on his own but went on a rare night out with friends on January 27, 2024 - leaving her son home alone at their house in Knowle, Bristol, with £20 for a takeaway. Shortly before midnight, she received a call from Avon and Somerset Police with news that 'changed her life forever'. At first she thought Mason was doing 'silly voices' down the phone, until an officer confirmed the boys had been involved in a fatal attack. The heartbroken mum raced home but was unable to see Mason as police had blocked off the street and he was tended to by paramedics. The boys were rushed to different hospitals - with Mason taken to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and Max Southmead Hospital, Bristol. Despite her heartache, Nikki refused to see Mason in hospital - fearing she wouldn't cope with seeing him in that state. Evil Adolescence teens butchered our kids after knife taunts & love feuds online…it's an arms war & no one feels safe Mason died shortly after arriving at hospital from his injuries at 12.49am on January 28, 2024, and Max passed away at 1.02am the next day. The five people involved were all found guilty of double murder during a trial at Bristol Crown Court in November 2024 and sentenced to 117 years between them. To add to Nikki's distress, one of the killers - Kodishai Wescott - was found to be 'bragging' about the murders after posting a rap song on social media from prison about the attack. The mum - who is in the process of moving to Wales - is still unable to enter Mason's room but is setting up a charity called The Mason Rist Memorial Trust in his memory. Nikki, a health care practitioner, says: 'I've not been the same since. 'I've not been able to go into his room. "Even though I've moved house, and I have lodgers staying there, I can't go in his room. "It's all locked up - I just can't face it. 8 8 8 8 'If I sit and think about Mason, I'll start crying, so I have to stay strong. 'I don't sleep well anymore – maybe a couple of hours a night. 'I'm a 51-year-old woman who sleeps with the light on.' Nikki says that there are reminders of her son everywhere in her home. "It happened in front of my house - I can't escape it,' she says. "I was weeding the front garden and I found a white ECG pad embedded in the flowers. 'That was from my son's chest, I just had to throw it away. 'How do you cope with that? 'What happened is always on my mind, so I have to put a block on it. 'It's the only way to keep going.' Nikki said Mason was a shy boy who only had a couple of friends at school and loved spending time playing PlayStation. He lost his dad, Shayne, 50, as a result of covid during the pandemic in 2021 when he was aged 13. On the night of January 27, 2024, Nikki left Mason home alone with £20 for a takeaway while she went out for the evening with friends. She said: "He wasn't mixed up in any gangs. "He was a kind boy who couldn't even hurt a fly. "Usually his nan or sister would come over, but I left him this one night. "I thought he'd be safe. There wasn't a bad bone in his body, he was just a quiet boy and thoughtful Nikki Knight "I always worried about Mas. "I used to cut up his food - I was scared he'd choke. "That night, I told him to order his McDonalds before I left and to lock all the doors. "He said 'don't worry, I'm not going to choke if you go out.'" At around 11.55pm, Nikki was having a drink in the pub when she received a life-changing call from Avon and Somerset Police. "I said, 'Mas, stop messing around'," she says. "I thought he was at home, maybe invited a mate over and was doing silly voices. "I hung up the phone - I still didn't believe it was real. "But I raced home, and police had blocked off the whole street. "I was screaming 'where is my son?'. "I heard the word 'stabbed' but no one was telling me anything." Mason was rushed to Bristol Children's Hospital and Nikki was met with doctors at 12.49am, who broke the news that Mason had passed away from his injuries. She recalls: 'I don't remember much or if I cried, I was just numb." Five people were arrested, all defendants denied the charge of double murder, and a case went to Bristol Crown Court in October 2024. During the trial, the jury heard about an earlier attack in the Hartcliffe area, Bristol, in which thugs threw bricks at a house and injured a female occupant - which Max and Mason were not involved in. The five defendants 'tooled up' while motivated by revenge and drove to the neighbouring suburb of Knowle looking for those responsible. At around 11.13pm, Max arrived at Mason's house to go and get a pizza, and the pair were spotted leaving as the defendants pulled up in an Audi. The jury heard that both boys were victims of mistaken identity– with the prosecution saying that they were completely innocent and had nothing to do with the attack at the property. Nikki says: 'I don't know the people - Mason didn't know them. 'I went to court, but I couldn't listen to all of it. 'I don't know how anyone can watch the CCTV. 'It makes me sick to think about it.' On October 15, 2024, all five defendants were found guilty of two counts of murder. Anthony Snook, 45, was sentenced to 38 years in prison. Riley Tolliver, 18, was jailed for a minimum of 23 years and 47 days. Kodi Wescott, 17, who can be named for the first time after a judge lifted a Section 45 order, was told he would serve a minimum of 23 years and 44 days. The 15-year-old boy was told he would serve at least 15 years and 229 days, while the 16-year-old was given a minimum term of 18 years and 44 days. Nikki adds: "I didn't feel anything at the verdict. "It doesn't matter what they said, it's not going to change anything or bring him back." Nikki - who is still struggling to come to terms with losing her son - said she tries to remain 'strong' and keep going. In January 2025, it emerged that Kodi Wescott had posted "offensive" rap tracks about the murders on Snapchat while in jail. Westcott's offensive video included rap lyrics which referenced "33 seconds" - the time it took for him and three others to ambush and kill Max and Mason. Nikki says: "I'm disgusted about it - it makes me sick. "How does he have access to a phone? "I've met an MP in London about it, there need to be tighter regulations. "Something has to be done about knife crime, too. "How has it got this bad in this country? "We've got kids killing kids. "In America, you get 50 or 60 years for killing. "Here it's like 15 years - it's not tough enough. "Something needs to improve." Nikki hopes people remember Mason for being a thoughtful boy, and has set up The Mason Rist Memorial Trust in his memory - helping underprivileged children get basic school supplies. She adds: 'There wasn't a bad bone in his body, he was just a quiet boy and thoughtful. 'I never let him out and I feel bad about that. 'Maybe if he had more, this wouldn't have happened. 'But I thought I knew he was safe at home. 'You don't think the first time he goes out on his own, anything will happen - that this would happen. "I'm a shadow of my former self but I have to keep going." 8
BBC News
18-06-2025
- BBC News
Headlines: Hot binmen and curious crop circles
Here's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media. Our pick of local website stories A campaign to complete fundraising for the Gympanzees project at the old Aust service station is doing well for Bristol Live. Organisers want to build the country's first permanent play centre for disabled children.A crop circle appearing near Stonehenge in the shape of what looks like a joker is a popular read for Somerset of those jailed for the murder of Max Dixon and Mason Rist in Bristol last year have applied to appeal their sentences, says Bristol Trilogy nightclub in Gloucester has shut ten months after it was refurbished according to Gloucestershire Live. Our top three from yesterday What to watch on social media A story of some young boys in Warminster calling for help after spotting someone unresponsive in a mobility scooter has had lots of love in this Facebook Somerset, the Roman Baths are introducing live music nights for the first may be enjoying the sunshine this week but spare a thought for those that have to work in the high temperatures, bin collections will be half an hour earlier this week in the Cotswold District Council area because of the warm spell.
BBC News
17-04-2025
- BBC News
Headlines: 'No justice' after second stabbing sentence
Here's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media. Our pick of local website stories The mother of Max Dixon, who was murdered alongside his best friend Mason Rist in a case of mistaken identity, says "justice hasn't been served" following the news her child's killer won't spend any longer in prison for carrying out another stabbing 24 hours earlier, ITV West County and Bristol Live Weston Mercury is asking why is Weston-super-Mare is a shoplifting hot spot? Rates are double the national average in the town.A man has been arrested for fly-tipping harmful waste in Wiltshire following an investigation by the council, Wiltshire 999 writer Edson Burton features in Bristol 24/7 after being honoured with the Tinniswood Award for best original audio drama script for 'Man Friday' on Radio 4.A cafe in Burnham-on-Sea wants to help tackle loneliness by encouraging people to talk at its "Chat and Natter" table, the town's news website reports. It is part of a UK-wide initiative called the Chatty Cafe Scheme. Our top three from yesterday What to watch on social media NHS Gloucestershire has published an exhaustive list of pharmacy opening times across the Easter of people have been sharing their pictures of the Northern Lights that appeared over Somerset last are now coffee pod drop off points at three recycling centres in Bristol, Bristol Waste has are getting excited about Bradford-on-Avon's annual rubber duck race which takes place on Easter Monday.A video of the "driver's-eye view" going into the Box Tunnel filmed from the front of a train posted by Great Western Railway is also getting lots of attention.
The Independent
15-04-2025
- The Independent
Youth sentenced for knife attack on stranger hours before double murder
A teenager has been sentenced for stabbing a 17-year-old stranger with a large Rambo knife just hours before he murdered two boys in Bristol. The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, criminal damage and being in possession of an offensive weapon with a 25.5cm blade. Bristol Crown Court heard the offences took place in the early hours of January 27 2024, which was the same day as Max Dixon, 16, and Mason Rist, 15, were killed in the Knowle West area of the city. Judge Peter Blair KC sentenced the boy to four years' detention with a further three years on licence for the knife attack, which took place in the Bishopsworth area. The youth will serve this sentence concurrently to the detention for life with a minimum term of 18 years and 44 days he received for the murders of Max and Mason, who he did not physically attack. Judge Blair told him: 'The circumstances were horrific. 'A young man, then aged 17, was driving a car with some passengers. He turned down a road that he hadn't intended to find himself on and there you were and flagged the car down. '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. 'You stabbed him in the arm and the leg but most seriously, you cut his right hand and his middle finger in particular, causing terrible damage to his tendons and nerve. 'The other people in the car began to look as though they were going to do try to get out and you then set about hitting windows with your knife. 'Thankfully that enabled the victim to drive off. 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.' The judge said the victim had undergone operations on his hand and his injuries had 'drastically affected' his life plans. He told the defendant: 'I consider that you are dangerous. There can be no other conclusion. 'You are already sentenced to detention at His Majesty's pleasure for no less than 18 years and 44 days as a result of your conviction by a jury of your part in the murders of two other children in this city. 'Your release will not be until it is considered that you are safe for release.' The judge sentenced the youth to four years in detention, with an extended period of three years on licence for the grievous bodily harm charge, and eight months detention for possession of a bladed article. He did not impose a separate penalty for the charge of criminal damage, relating to the victim's Toyota Aygo car. Prosecuting, James Haskell said the defendant was aged 15 at the time of the offences and there was 'no connection' between himself and the victim. Mr Haskell described how the victim had been driving to McDonalds when he 'took a wrong turn and ended up on Lakeshore Drive'. 'As he approached the junction, he saw a person come from underneath the bridge wearing a balaclava and waving him down,' Mr Haskell told the court. 'He said he saw the defendant remove something from his waistband which turned out to be a large knife.' After he escaped, the victim attended Southmead Hospital for treatment. He initially told hospital staff and police that he had injured himself cutting onions, the court heard. Mr Haskell added: 'In his subsequent interview, he accepted that account wasn't true. He said he had said that because he didn't want any problems and was scared.' The court heard a large Rambo-style knife was later recovered from a property connected to the attack on Max and Mason – who were killed in a case of mistaken identity. Blood on the weapon matched that of the victim, while the defendant's DNA was found on the handle. The defendant was arrested and answered 'no comment' to questions in 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, mitigating, said his client was in a period of 'behavioural decline' when he committed the offence and the double murders. Referring to his time in custody, Mr Pakrooh said: 'He appears to have flourished and taken the opportunity for education there with both hands.' Mr Pakrooh added that an order banning the publication of anything that would identify his client 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 aged 18. Four other people: Antony Snook, 45; Riley Tolliver, 18; Kodi-Shai Wescott, 17; and a 15-year-old boy; were also sentenced for the murders in December last year. Max and Mason, who had been best friends since nursery, died from stab wounds after being attacked outside Mason's home on Ilminster Avenue on January 27 last year. Bailey Wescott, 23 of Whitchurch, and Jamie Ogbourne, 27 of Hartcliffe, were also jailed in December for five years and three months after admitting two counts each of assisting an offender.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Headlines: Hottest day of the year and falcon eggs
Here is our weekly roundup of stories from across local websites in the West of England. We have a daily round up as well. Make sure you look out for it on the website and the local section of the BBC News app. Spring has officially sprung and on Thursday, it made a grand appearance for the spring equinox. Thursday was officially the hottest day on record so far in 2025. Some parts of the UK reached temperatures of 21c - the highest recorded UK spring equinox temperature since 1972. The first peregrine falcon eggs of the year have been laid at Salisbury Cathedral – and there are hopes they could hatch in time for Easter. There were lower numbers at this year's Cheltenham Festival, and the chief executive said that value for money is "critical" for him to look at, though next year's tickets will remain the same price. And the mother of murdered 16-year-old Max Dixon has said his killer should receive a social media ban after writing a rap song about his death. More news stories for Bristol Watch the latest Points West Listen to the latest news for Bristol Adolescence writer suggests social media ban for kids Man sets out on 1,000 mile trek for charity Family-run store to close after nearly six decades The towns where you pay £300 more in council tax New national forest to see 20m trees planted Somerset Live has wrote about a man who locked himself inside of a housing developer's showroom in a plea to attract attention. Gary Prince, his wife and their three children have had a difficult time battling mould and damp in their Yeovil home. The West's best places to live and a photogenic fox Headlines: Spring at Stonehenge and Persimmon disputes Headlines: Dozens of dead fish and 10,000 teddies for hospital Headlines: Shop closures and greyhound racing ends Value for money at Cheltenham and 100 days until Glastonbury Follow BBC West social channels in Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
