Mistaken identity murders, Rovers sacking and boat fire

Max Dixon, 16, (left) sitting in home, he is wearing a black top. Mason Rist, 15, (right) smiling and while coat with hood up.Image source, Family handout
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Max Dixon, 16, (left) and Mason Rist, 15, (right) had been friends since nursery

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The sentencing of four teenagers who killed Max Dixon and Mason Rist in a heartbreaking case of mistaken identity dominated the news this week.

The attack horrified communities living and working in Bristol, including those sent to investigate.

Meanwhile, Bristol Rovers sacking manager Matt Taylor caused rumours to circulate about a possible replacement.

And a man who lost everything after a fire broke out on his narrow boat created a lot of sympathy.

Kodishai Wescott, 17, (left)'s mugshot, he has big curly hair and Riley Tolliver's mugshot he has flat brown hair.Image source, Avon and Somerset Police
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Kodishai Wescott, 17, (left) and Riley Tolliver, 18, are the two teenagers detained for life who can be identified

Bristol Live's story about four teenagers being detained for life for the murders, external of best friends Max Dixon and Mason Rist who were killed in a case of mistaken identity gripped the city this week.

Mason, 15, and Max, 16, were stabbed to death with machetes yards from Mason's front door in Knowle West, Bristol, in January.

Riley Tolliver, 18, and 17-year-old Kodishai Wescott, who can be identified for the first time after reporting restrictions were lifted, were told they would each be detained for a minimum of 23 years.

A 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were detained for life with minimum terms of 15 and 18 years respectively.

A close-up of Matt Taylor in a thick black winter coat against a blurred background, looking thoughtfully into the distance to the left of cameraImage source, Getty Images
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Taylor was put under pressure after Rovers won only twice in 10 games in all competitions during August and September

Bristol Live's X account was busy throughout this week after Taylor was sacked on Monday.

By Thursday, reporter Daniel Hargreaves, was posting: "Frustratingly, very little is coming out on names and the identity is yet to be revealed, but there's still a belief it could be a foreign appointment."

By Friday the most likely successor was being named as German coach, Michael Wimmer.

A post stated, external: "Deal not yet done but Gas pushing for appointment in time for Exeter."

A grainy photograph taken in the dark with a shadowy outline of the narrowboat engulfed at one end in flames several feet highImage source, South West News Service
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George Pedley's canal boat was completely destroyed in a fire

The story of a man losing everything in a narrow boat blaze, external in Frampton on Severn sparked a lot of interest.

Gloucestershire Live reported that George Pedley had been out for the evening on 6 December when a neighbour called him with the news that his beloved white boat was on fire.

Mr Pedley said: "I was in complete disbelief. I never contemplated losing everything. It is hard to take because a lot of that is irreplaceable."

A close-up police shot of 72-year-old Flavin looking straight into camera with white, receding hair and untidy white stubbleImage source, Dyfed Powys Police
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Christopher Flavin was jailed for a third time for child sex abuse

A top post for Bristol Live on Tuesday was the story about a former Bristol teacher jailed for a third time, external for child sex abuse.

According to reporter Tristan Cork, Christopher Flavin was a boys' football club coach and teacher with "a long track record of abuse in the Bristol area".

Flavin, 72, who had already served two sentences in prison in the last two decades, was jailed again, this time for 10 years, with an extra five years supervision after that.

The prosecutor was quoted as saying his record "establishes beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant is nothing other than a committed, calculating and dangerous paedophile".

The back of a police van with yellow and orange chevrons and the word 'Forensics' across the top, parked in a housing estate with police tape stretching away from the back door
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Raymond Groves was found dead at a property in Easterton, near Devizes

An article in the Swindon Advertiser about three people who are to stand trial, external for the murder of Raymond Groves, was a top post on Thursday.

Mr Groves, from Hartcliffe, Bristol, died in a stabbing in Easterton, near Devizes, Wiltshire, on 2 July.

Helen Shakespeare, 53, of Strawberry Fields, and Anthony Hodges-Hillier, 33, of Brooklands, Royal Wootton Bassett, have both been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Letishia Goodwin, 29, of Strawberry Fields, has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

All three have been remanded in custody ahead of a trial set to begin in February 2025.

A close-up of a child's tummy with a hand placed on the stomach, both covered in a red rashImage source, Getty Images
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Symptoms to look out for include a rash, starting on the face and spreading

A warning of a rise in measles cases, external in Somerset was trending early in the week.

Somerset Council posted symptoms to look out for in children such as fever, runny nose, red and watery eyes, or a rash starting on the face and spreading.

Parents are being urged to keep children suspected of having measles away from healthcare settings.

The warning prompted comments on the council's Facebook page about the importance of getting children vaccinated against the disease.

A large department store frontage, with the name, House to Home, across the top of the ground floor and several pedestrians walking pastImage source, Chloe Tuff/Swindon Advertiser
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The new store is expected to open within the week

The signs that have gone up over the former Marks and Spencer, external store in Regent Street, Swindon, have been sparking interest in the town.

The Swindon Advertiser reported that a company called House to Home had been confirmed as the new tenants with a reopening within the next week.

Reporter Chloe Tuff said several people had been spotted working inside the shop putting the finishing touches on the decor.

A spokesperson for the Brunel Centre said: "We hope shoppers will be able to find the perfect finishing touches for their Christmas at home or to spruce up their space for the New Year."

Stacey and Grant standing together, smiling to camera, with mum holding two triplets, and dad the other one; all are fast asleep. There's a Christmas tree in the room in the background  Image source, ITV News
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The parents of rare identical triplets were celebrating this week

The story of rare identical triplets, external born in Somerset was one of the most clicked posts for ITV West Country this week.

The triplets, named Hunter, Bodhi and Travis, were due to be born on Christmas Day but arrived early at 33 weeks on 6 November.

Proud parents, Stacey and Grant Silk, who live near Shepton Mallet, said: "We're taking it one day at a time and embracing the chaos - we're quite a chaotic family anyway, so it suits us."

Heather standing outside on a dull cloudy day in her high vis jacket and holding her lollipop stick, in front of a school playgroundImage source, Burnham-on-Sea.com
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Heather James has retired after more than 35 years at schools across Burnham-on-Sea

Burnham-on-Sea.com had a popular post about a lollipop lady who was retiring, external after more than 35 years.

Heather James, 67, hung up her familiar road crossing sign on December 13 as she retired from her current role at Somerset's West Huntspill School.

The local website quoted her saying: "I'm not happy about retiring because I still feel young, but sometimes you've got to start thinking about yourself. I will miss all the children."