Teenager who murdered two best friends named

A teenager who murdered two best friends in a case of mistaken identity can now be named.

Finley Davis was 15 years old when he and four other people took part in a machete attack in Bristol which killed Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16.

He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years in December 2024, at which time a judge ruled he should remain anonymous due to his age. As first reported by the Bristol Post, Davis turned 18 on Monday, meaning the restriction preventing the publication of his name no longer applies.

During trial, Bristol Crown Court was told Davis went to McDonalds while his victims lay dying in hospital.

He was convicted of murder alongside Kodishai Wescott, 18, Riley Tolliver, 19, Anthony Snook, 46, and another boy who still cannot be named due to his age.

During their trial, the jury heard the convicted teenagers were involved in a rivalry between the Bristol neighbourhoods of Knowle West and Hartcliffe.

On 27 January 2024, they were looking for revenge after a group of youths threw bricks at a house in Hartcliffe. They were driven to Knowle West by Snook armed with machetes and a baseball bat.

CCTV footage captured Snook's Audi Q2 pulling into Ilminster Avenue, where the four teenagers jumped out. The attacks on Max and Mason lasted just 33 seconds.

Neither boy had anything to do with the earlier incident and had been on their way to buy a pizza when they were attacked. They died in hospital within 15 minutes of each other the next day.

After his death, Mason's family paid tribute to him as "a kind, gentle soul who loved his PlayStation and Liverpool Football Club".

They added: "We have found some comfort in the knowledge that you left this world with your best friend, Max. You will now be together forever. Also back with your dad."

Max's family described the 16-year-old as "fun and cheeky" and "a mummy's boy".

"You were a loyal friend, kind grandchild, loving nephew, annoying brother to your sisters and a loving son," they said.

As well as the life sentence Davis received for the boys' murders, he is also serving four years after admitting causing grievous bodily harm during a knife attack on a 17-year-old just hours before the killings.

The victim, who was unknown to Davis, was driving in Bristol when he took a wrong turn.

He pulled over and opened a window when Davis flagged him down, only to be stabbed in the arm, leg and hand by the teenager, who was wielding a machete.

Jailing him for four years to run concurrently to his life sentence, Judge Peter Blair KC said: "Quite what was in your mind is almost impossible to imagine.

"I consider that you are dangerous. There can be no other conclusion."

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