Murder accused's clothes 'stained with blood'

The attack on Mason Rist (L) and Max Dixon (R) lasted just 33 seconds

The blood of one of two boys stabbed to death was found on jogging bottoms allegedly worn by one of the teenagers accused of killing him, a court has heard.

Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16, died after being attacked in Ilminster Avenue in Bristol on 27 January.

The prosecution allege the boys were killed in revenge after being wrongfully identified as being responsible for an attack on a house earlier that evening.

Jogging bottoms thought to belong to a 17-year-old defendant had Mason’s blood on them, the jury heard on Thursday.

The five people on trial for their murders at Bristol Crown Court are Antony Snook, 45, Riley Tolliver, 18, and three boys aged 15, 16 and 17, who cannot be named due to their age.

The 17-year-old has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Max but denies his murder, and denies murdering Mason.

In a statement, he said he “jabbed” at Max with a knife, but only “swiped” at Mason with the blade.

But Bristol Crown Court heard forensic scientist Rebecca Mayfield examined the bloodstained jogging bottoms he allegedly wore in the attack and said it was unlikely he had only "swiped" at Mason.

Three people targeted a home in Hartcliffe on the night of the attack

“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,” she said.

“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.”

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 knife.

Max and Mason were attacked just seconds after they left the house

But forensic scientist Fay Lewis said the presence of Mason’s DNA could be explained by the defendant only swiping at him as he claims.

Ms Lewis said the DNA evidence on the knife should be treated as “inconclusive”.

The attack on Max and Mason lasted just 33 seconds and was captured on a CCTV camera on Mason’s house.

The victims both died from their wounds in hospital in the early hours of 28 January.

The trial continues.