Teenager’s DNA and victim’s blood ‘found on clothing and machete’

Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16, were killed in January this year in Bristol.

Mason Rist and Max Dixon (Family handouts) (PA Media)

The blood of one of two boys who died during an alleged revenge attack was found on the clothing and weapon handled by one of the teenagers accused of killing him, a court heard.

Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16, were allegedly set upon by four armed teenagers after leaving Mason’s home in Ilminster Avenue in the Knowle West area of Bristol shortly after 11pm on January 27.

Five people – Antony Snook, 45, Riley Tolliver, 18, and three boys aged 15, 16 and 17 who cannot be named because of their age – are on trial at Bristol Crown Court charged with their murder.

The jury of nine men and three women previously heard Mason and Max had been wrongly identified as being responsible for bricks being thrown at a house in the Hartcliffe area of Bristol earlier that evening.

Forensic scientist Fay Lewis examined a pair of grey jogging bottoms and two large machetes, which the prosecution alleges were used in the attack.

Ms Lewis said the DNA of the 17-year-old defendant, together with blood stains belonging to Mason, were found on the trousers.

“In my opinion the findings could be explained had the 17-year-old worn the jogging bottoms at some time which could include during the assault on Max and Mason,” Ms Lewis told the court.

“I have not been provided with alternative explanation to consider in relation to these jogging bottoms.

“Blood staining that could have originated from Mason Rist was detected on these jogging bottoms.”

A 68cm-long black machete with serrated edge was recovered by police after the attack and scientific tests found traces of Mason’s DNA on the blade.

The court was told the 17-year-old, whose DNA was found on the handle, admits handling the weapon.

Explaining the findings, Ms Lewis said: “In my opinion the presence of a low level of DNA that could be attributable or originated from Mason Rist on the sample taken from the tip and cutting edge of the blade could be explained by the 17-year-old having injured Mason Rist using this knife.

“However, considering the information provided to me in form of the defence statement, in my opinion this finding could also be explained had Mason’s DNA transferred to the knife tip or edges through the 17-year-old jabbing or swiping at him using the knife.

“Therefore, this finding does not assist with determining whether the finding is more likely had the knife been used to cause the injuries to Mason Rist or had it been used as the 17-year-old states and therefore should be treated as inconclusive.”

The prosecution alleges the 17-year-old chased and attacked Max, before striking Mason, who was lying injured on the floor.

The court was told a second weapon, a 66cm-long silver machete, was also recovered by police which the 16-year-old defendant admits handling.

Ms Lewis told the court both the 16-year-old and 17-year-old’s DNA was found on the handle of the weapon but no traces were found relating to Max or Mason.

“In my opinion the findings could be explained had the 16-year-old had contact with the sampled areas of this knife at some point,” she said.

“I have not been provided with any specific alternative account.

“However, I understand this may be the knife the 16-year-old has admitted to handling and therefore the potential presence of his DNA may not be unexpected.”

The court also heard from forensic scientist Rebecca Mayfield who examined the blood staining on the jogging bottoms.

She said if the 17-year-old was involved in the attack on Mason she would have a “moderate expectation” that blood would have been transferred to the clothing.

“In my opinion these findings could be explained by the 17-year-old having stabbed Mason as alleged,” she said.

Asked for her opinion on the teenager’s defence case statement, she replied: “If the 17-year-old has only jabbed once at one of the males and swiped at the other male, I would have a low expectation of the transfer of blood to his clothing from those actions.

“Therefore, in my opinion, the findings from the jogging bottoms cannot be explained by his version of events unless there was another mechanism for the transfer of blood staining after the assault.”

The court has previously heard a screwdriver was recovered from a garden near to the scene of the alleged attack, which Max had been seen to run into.

Ms Lewis said blood was found on the screwdriver, which matched Max’s.

A CCTV camera on Mason’s house captured how the attack lasted just 33 seconds – including the Audi stopping, four teenagers allegedly jumping out, attacking the two friends, returning to the car and it driving off.

Mason and Max both died in hospital in the early hours of January 28 from knife wounds.

The 15-year-old boy on trial has admitted murdering Mason but denies murdering Max. The 17-year-old boy has admitted manslaughter relating to Max, but denies murdering Max and Mason.

Jurors previously heard how a property in the Hartcliffe area of Bristol, which they were told has a rivalry with the Knowle West area, was targeted at about 10pm on January 27.

CCTV footage from that house shows people outside holding machetes and throwing bricks at the windows. A woman was injured in the incident.

An hour later, Snook, Tolliver and the three teenage boys allegedly left the Hartcliffe area in the Audi for “revenge”, Ray Tully KC prosecuting, previously said.

They drove past Mason and Max, who had just left Mason’s home, and wrongly believed they had spotted those responsible for the attack.

Mr Tully previously told the jury they were “entirely wrong” as Max and Mason had “absolutely nothing to do” with the incident in Hartcliffe.

Snook, Tolliver, the 16-year-old boy and the 17-year-old boy are charged with murdering Mason, together with the 15-year-old boy, on January 27 this year.

Snook, Tolliver and the three teenage boys are charged with murdering Max on the same date.

The trial continues.