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A 15-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to the murder of a teenager.
The boy, who cannot be named, has admitted murdering Mason Rist, 15, who died after being stabbed twice in an attack outside his home in Knowle West, Bristol, on January 27.
Another boy, 17, has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Max Dixon, 16, who died after being stabbed once in the same attack.
Antony Snook, 45, Riley Tolliver, 18, and three teenagers aged 15, 16, and 17 who cannot be named – are all jointly accused of both murders, and are currently on trial at Bristol Crown Court.
The 15-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the second count of murder, and the 17-year-old has pleaded not guilty to both charges, though guilty to the reduced charge of manslaughter against Max.
The three other defendants deny all charges.
‘Unsurvivable injuries’
The court heard earlier how Mason, who was stabbed once in the back and once in the chest, sustained “unsurvivable injuries”.
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Max, who was stabbed once in the abdomen, also suffered “instant severe blood loss”.
Both boys were treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to hospital – Mason to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and Max to Southmead Hospital – but died within 15 minutes of one another.
Ray Tully KC, prosecuting, told the court that the four younger defendants jumped out of a car driven by Mr Snook and attacked the pair in a case of mistaken identity.
After the attack, the teenagers were caught on CCTV attempting to destroy and hide evidence, the court was told.
Images captured from a back garden show a fire being lit and what appears to be clothing being deliberately burned.
One of the teenagers involved was also seen placing an item in a shed.
Officers later searched the property and found a knife in the same area.
‘Anxious and shaking’
Mr Tully also revealed to the court that Mr Snook had been arrested at his home address about an hour after the attack, with his car having been linked to the incident.
While on the way to a custody suite in Keynsham, police received confirmation Mason had died and stopped the van to tell Mr Snook he was being further arrested for Mason’s murder.
On being informed of Mason’s death, Mr Snook “took a large exhale of air followed by stating ‘s***’”, Mr Tully told the court.
The 17-year-old defendant handed himself into police shortly after midnight on January 31, with police saying he “appeared to be anxious, shaking, pale, clammy and shocked” on arrival.
The three other defendants were all arrested at different addresses, with the youngest meeting police to hand himself in.
The trial continues, and is set to last until the end of November.
.Culled from BBC
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