Mason Rist: Grandmother calls for harsher knife punishments

Gail Iles thinks there should be tougher punishments for carrying a knife in public

The community of Knowle West in Bristol was rocked by the killings of teenagers Mason Rist and Max Dixon on 27 January.

Fifteen-year-old Mason was fatally stabbed close to his doorstep, on his way to get a pizza.

His grandmother has told BBC West she is still feeling numb, and is calling for tougher punishments for people caught carrying knives.

"I was about to go to bed when the phone rang - and my daughter told me Mason had been stabbed," said Gail Iles.

Mason had been taken to hospital along with his friend Max. Both had suffered knife wounds.

The phone call was brief, but it changed Gail's life.

Her son rushed to her house and they went straight to the Bristol Royal Infirmary, where Mason had been taken by ambulance.

"There was lots of doctors and nurses round him, and there were four police officers in the room, and they said 'sorry love - can you go out into the relative room?' and within half an hour the doctors came in and I just knew by their faces what they were going to say," said Gail.

Mason had died from his wounds.

"I was numb," Gail told BBC West.

"I'm still numb. It's four weeks ago and I haven't even cried because my kids and grandchildren have been so upset, and you've got to be there for them because you are mum, you are nan.

"I asked if I could give him a kiss and they said yes.

"I hope he didn't feel anything - he didn't feel any pain."

She added: "He was a happy boy and had lots of friends."

Gail and grandson Mason were close

There have been several other incidents in Bristol where people have been stabbed, in some cases fatally, recently.

Gail believes stronger measures should be taken to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.

"I think there should be more stop and searches," she said.

"If people have nothing to hide, does it really matter if they get searched?"

"Anyone caught with a knife should get five years (in prison). That'd stop them doing it".

She added: "There've been so many kids lately who've been murdered by knives... they aren't big carrying knives - they're cowards."

Mason Rist and Max Dixon died after being stabbed in Knowle West

Gail thinks young people are not being pushed towards social and sports clubs, where they are supervised, and can put their energies into an activity.

"I know they've shut some youth clubs down but there's so much they can do these days. Join a boxing club or play football or something. We didn't have stuff like that (when I was a child) and we didn't get into trouble like this," she said.

Five people have been charged with murdering Mason and Max, and two people have been charged with assisting an offender.

All seven have appeared in court and have been remanded in custody.