Four teenagers and a 45-year-old man were found guilty of murdering two boys, aged 15 and 16, who were attacked with machetes due to mistaken identity.

The convictions followed a five-week trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Jury hears how Max Dixon and Mason Rist He was killed on January 27 due to identity confusion.after being incorrectly identified as responsible for a house attack in the Hartcliffe area of ​​the city earlier that evening.

45-year-old Antony Snook, 18-year-old Riley Tolliver and three boys aged 15, 16 and 17 were on trial accused of two counts of murder.

As the jury foreman announced the guilty verdict, none of the defendants showed any reaction as they sat listlessly and stared straight ahead.

Sitting in the public gallery at the courthouse, the families of Mason and Max wept as the verdicts were announced. Other relatives cheered and punched the air.

The fatal stabbings in Knowle West lasted just 33 seconds; Both boys were assessed in court as having “non-survivable” injuries and “sudden severe blood loss”.

Both died in hospital in the early hours of January 28.

Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins, Avon and Somerset Police’s senior investigating officer on the case, told Sky News that Max and Mason had nothing to do with the house attack.

“These kids were unknown to their attackers, they were best friends, two beautiful kids going about their lives, and they attacked for no reason,” he said.

The bulk of the prosecution’s case Based on CCTV and doorbell videosIncluding a camera in Mason’s home that recorded footage of the stabbing attack on him.

The couple was seen leaving Mason’s house around 11.15pm and going out for pizza.

Prosecutor Ray Tully KC told the jury the children were attacked by the group traveling in Snook’s Audi Q2.

He said the group was “seeking revenge”, “moving as a pack” and “armed” with fearsome weapons to catch those responsible.

After the attackers escaped, Max and Mason were left bleeding on the street.

More than 230 police officers and staff were involved in the investigation and thousands of pieces of evidence were analyzed.

Hundreds mourned victims at school

The young victims were together at Oasis Academy John Williams secondary school when they were in Year 11 and were preparing to sit their GCSE exams this summer.

The school’s headteacher, Victoria Boomer-Clark, told Sky News everyone was rallying to support other students and staff.

He said: “After the children were tragically killed, first and foremost for us we were thinking about the families and how they were coping with the tragedy and shock.

“I remember trying to get ready for Monday morning and now I have memories of how incredibly strong our young people were and how we had a real sense of community.

“Unbeknownst to us, the young people had arranged to stand guard on the playground during recess on the first Monday. Hundreds of young people and our staff were gathering silently.”

Mrs Boomer-Clark said the children would be attending the school dance this summer.

“We had a red-lit wall for Mason and Liverpool football club and a blue-lit wall for Park Knowle Football Club,” he said. “The year group came together and supported each other through that.”

Detective had never seen ‘horrifying’ weapons before

Murders have happened before New law passed banning the use of zombie-style knives and machetes.

Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins said: “The weapons used in the attack on Mason and Max were simply horrific.

“I have been a detective for many years and have had the misfortune of investigating some serious crimes.

“I have never seen in my services a weapon like the one used against these two boys.

“For whatever reason, there is no place for this type of weapon in society.”

The detective praised the child’s families who attended court throughout the hearing.

He added: “I am so embarrassed by the families involved in this investigation. They were in court every day, they saw things in court that no parent should ever have to go through. They saw attacks on their children but they maintain their dignity, their courage and their love for their family.”

“How can you make up for what they’ve lost? They’ve lost two beautiful sons, and I just hope the verdicts will bring some kind of closure. It will never be complete closure.”

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Snook will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on November 19.

The other 4 defendants will be sentenced on December 16, after the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Police continue to investigate the Hartcliffe house attack and search for those responsible.