Man denies taking group to scene of attack for revenge

Antony Snook, depicted on the right, is on trial for the murders of Bristol teenagers Mason Rist and Max Dixon

A man who allegedly drove four armed teenagers to a street where two boys were fatally attacked has denied he was going there to "get revenge".

Antony Snook, 45, admits driving Riley Tolliver, 18, and three boys aged 15, 16 and 17, to and from the scene of the alleged murders in Bristol but denies any knowledge of weapons or violence.

Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16, died from stab wounds in Ilminster Avenue in the Knowle West area at about 23:00 GMT on 27 January.

The two boys had been wrongly identified as having thrown bricks at a house in neighbouring Hartcliffe earlier that evening.

Three masked individuals had targeted a home in Hartcliffe on the night of the attack

During the trial, Bristol Crown Court has been told there is a rivalry between the Hartcliffe and Knowle West areas of south Bristol.

At about 22:00 on the night of the attack, at least three young people threw bricks through the windows of a house in Hartcliffe, injuring a woman inside.

The court has been told that neither Mason or Max had anything to do with the incident and were killed in a case of mistaken identity.

Mr Snook told the jury that he believed he was driving his four co-accused to a "safe house", following the attack on the property.

He said that the boys directed him to the Knowle West area and shouted “stop”, claiming he believed they were outside the safe house.

Mr Snook said he was then aware of a boy, Mason, lying in the road, telling the jury: “That was the first time I seen him.”

When asked what he believed had happened, Mr Snook replied: "I thought they had got into a fight or something. I didn't want to be involved with it.

"I didn't think it was something that cost two people their lives."

Following the incident, the four boys got back into Mr Snook's car and he dropped them off before returning to his home.

"I didn't realise anyone had been seriously hurt," Mr Snook said.

Antony Snook told the court he did not see the group bring any weapons into his car

Adam Vaitlingam, representing Mr Snook, asked: “Did you go over to Knowle intending the passengers in your car to carry out violence on anybody?”

Snook replied: “No, of course not.”

Ray Tully, prosecuting, asked Mr Snook that his case was he was driving four boys to a safe house, did not see any weapons before or after the incident, or any violence taking place.

Mr Tully said to Mr Snook: “I’m going to be suggesting to you that that is complete fiction on your part.

"You knew exactly what you were up to and what they were up to."

Mr Snook replied: "No."

Mr Tully added: "You were heading with those two boys to Knowle West to get revenge, that is the truth isn’t it?"

Mr Snook replied: "Not at all."

The 15-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to the murder of Mason Rist, but denies the murder of Max Dixon, and the 17-year-old to the manslaughter of Max, but denies murder.

The boy aged 16, Mr Snook and Mr Tolliver deny murder.

The trial continues.