Family of murdered best friends thank Bristol community for support during 'devastating' time

The families of best friends Max Dixon and Mason Rist have told how their lives have been devastated by their murders. But both Mason’s grandmother Gail Iles and Max’s mum Leanne Ekland thanked the community in Bristol, and the police, for their support after the group of five who killed them were convicted of their murders.

Gail Iles said the support from the people of Knowle West in the aftermath of the shocking killings in January this year has been ‘incredible’. Max, 16 and Mason, 15, were stabbed to death outside Mason’s home in Ilminster Avenue in Knowle West late on the evening of Saturday, January 27 this year.

The pair had just started walking to the Newquay Road shops and were attacked by a gang of four teenagers from Hartcliffe who jumped out of a passing car. The attack was revenge for an earlier attack on a house in Hartcliffe, which Max and Mason had nothing to do with at all.

On Friday (November 15) a jury at Bristol Crown Court found Antony Snook, 45, Riley Tolliver, 18, and three boys now aged 15, 16 and 17, all guilty of the murders of both boys. The double murders shocked the country at the time, and there was a huge outpouring of grief and support in South Bristol and Knowle West in particular.

In a statement thanking the community, Gail Iles, Mason’s grandmother, said: “Mason died, along with his best friend, after being attacked outside his home. His death has had a profound effect on all the family - we have been left in bits. He was 15 years old. No life should be ended at that age.

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“The support we’ve received from the community since his death has been incredible - from kind words, to acts of kindness, our neighbours have been there for us and I really can’t describe how much this has been appreciated.

“I’d also to thank the police for everything they have done. The family liaison officers were in constant contact with us in the days that followed and continue to provide us with this support. The investigation team has also been great and it is because of them people have been charged. So while we will never get over Mason’s death, myself and all of Mason’s family want everyone who has supported us to know how grateful we are. Thank you,” she added.

Leanne Ekland said there were no words to express her thanks to the people who have supported her and her wider family.

Max was a popular member of community football club Park Knowle FC - and was the under-16 team captain. Since his death, the club initiated a Max Dixon Trophy, to be awarded to the player who best encapsulated Max’s strengths of positive and support for team-mates, and back in the summer, Leanne presented the trophy for the first time on an emotional afternoon at the club.

Park Knowle and Max’s family have also been working together to launch the Max Dixon Foundation, which is raising money to see smaller, portable bleed kits - first aid kits to help deal with blood-loss injuries - more widely distributed. She and Park Knowle’s Carly Kingdon also travelled to Westminster earlier this year to call on the Government to see first aid training and knife crime awareness to be included on the school curriculum.

“I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has been affected by Max’s and Mason’s deaths,” Leanne said. “From the people who looked after our boys, to the police, to the community and everyone supporting us today.

“I can’t find the right words and thank you just doesn’t seem good enough. Max and Mason were childhood friends with their whole lives ahead of them which was cruelly taken away from them. Nothing will ease our family’s suffering. May both boys rest in peace. Thank you once again,” she added.

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