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Emotional moment Susanna Reid fights back tears and comforts grieving mum live on GMB
Watch the touching moment in the video
SUSANNA Reid choked back tears as she comforted a grieving mum overcome with emotion as she attempted to recall happy times with her late son live on Good Morning Britain.
The ITV anchor, herself a mum-of-three, held hands with Leanne Ekland through the majority of the emotional chat.
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The brave parent was praised by Good Morning Britain anchors Susanna, 54, and co-host Richard Madeley, 68, for her "bravery" as she recalled the harrowing aftermath of the tragedy, in the Bristol surburb of Knowle.
Leanne's son Max Dixon, 16, and his pal Mason Rist, 15, were attacked in the street as they walked home on a Saturday night in 2024, by a group who then fled the scene in a car.
Locals at the time tried to help the boys and held them in their arms as they lay bleeding, but they died later in hospital.
On today's GMB, Leanne told how the mates had "gone for a pizza and never came home".
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Their killers had wrongly identified them as the culprits of an earlier attack - leading them to "tool up" with an arsenal of "fearsome weapons".
Anthony Snook, the getaway driver who helped chase down and murder the mates, was then jailed for life with a minimum of 38 years after being convicted of murder.
Riley Tolliver, 18, Kodishai Wescott, 17, and two teenage boys aged 15 and 16 were also jailed after being found guilty of murder.
Tolliver and Wescott were caged for life, while the 15-year-old was handed 15 years and 229 days in prison and the 16-year-old received an 18 year and 44 day jail term.
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Leanne recently learned how Kodi, 17, had posted a rap online, bragging about the tragedy.
After reporting it to Instagram she recalled the harrowing moment she knew it related to her little boy, who was a talented footballer.
She said: "I heard the reference to 33 seconds, which is obviously how long the attack took, and that's all I needed to hear.
Awkward moment Susanna Reid refuses to hug Piers Morgan as he returns to GMB 4 years after storming off set
";So I knew that was reference to Max and Mason."
She then reported the account to her liaison officers.
She added: "Obviously it was quite distressing to hear."
Leanne fought back tears as she said: "It's an insult to my son, they were two really lovely boys.
Good Morning Britain presenters
Current presenters:
- Susanna Reid (presenters Monday to Wednesday and alternate Thursdays) - 2014 to present
- Kate Garraway (presenters alternate Thursdays and Fridays) - 2014 to present
- Martin Lewis (Money Saving Expert) - 2021 to present
- Richard Madeley (presents Monday to Thursday) - 2022 to present
- Ed Balls (presents on a rotating basis) - 2022 to present
- Adil Ray (presents on Fridays) - 2024 to present
- Robert Rinder (presents on a rotating basis) - 2024 to present
- Charlotte Hawkins (stand in and holiday cover presenter) 2014 to present
Former presenters:
- Ben Shephard (Thursdays and Fridays) - 2014 to 2024
- Sean Fletcher (Monday–Friday) - 2014
- John Stapleton (Wednesday) - 2014
- Piers Morgan (Monday to Wednesday) - 2015 to 2021
- Lorraine Kelly (Monday to Friday) - 2022
"They were not wrapped up in any gang wars or postcode wars, they went out for a pizza and didn't come home."
She added: "He's gloating about what he's done."
Yet the parent then struggled to speak as Susanna gently encouraged her to share memories of her son.
Susanna said: "The reason I ask - and you don't haver to answer - is because Max was more than somebody who was the victim that night.
"Max was special, he was your son, I don't want to make you ..." before tailing off.
She took Leanne's hand and said: "I want to remember Max, we can do that afterwards if you like.
"He wasn't a victim, he was a wonderful, gorgeous 16-year-old boy."
As Leanne took heart from her words she said: "He was, that's why I do what I do, this is why I get up every day, because I know it's what he would want me to do."
In a heartbreaking moment she then confessed: "I am struggling to learn to live without him.
"It's really difficult, he was a massive part of my life. He was a massive part of my girls life."
As she recalled how the family has been affected she confessed: "We don't know how to cope with our grief.
"I should never have had to choose my son's coffin, I should never have had to arrange his funeral."
Yet as Susanna encouraged her to talk about how she is fighting for Max, Leanne told how she has set up the Max Dixon Foundation which assists with providing bleeding kits.
HORTOR TROLLING
Earlier this month, we reported how Kodi - whose internet access is supposed to be monitored behind bars - had returned to social media to "gloat" about the horrific double killing, reports.
An Instagram account was set up in January - a month after the teen was jailed for life - under his name.
The account includes a reference to the 13s - a South Bristol gang - and a padlock with the year 2048, which is when Wescott will be eligible for parole.
Another post shows the killer in the corridor of his secure unit but with a large padlock emoji covering his face.
A video shared in February features a sick rap with lyrics referencing Mason and Max's killing - including one line, saying: "weres XXX he up in his coffin [sic].
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A second video of a different rap references "33 seconds", which is the duration of the gruesome attack on the two innocent boys.
An urgent investigation has now been launched by the Ministry of Justice and its Youth Custody Service.
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