Teen battered boy, 15, to death after gay affair
A FARMER’S son has been found guilty of murdering a schoolboy after paying more than £ 2,000 to stop him revealing their sexual relationship.
Matthew Mason, 19, admitted bludgeoning 15- year- old Alex Rodda to death with a wrench in woods in Ashley, Cheshire, in December 2019.
At his trial, Mason argued he lost control after being blackmailed and claimed his victim tried to attack him just before his death. But yesterday a jury found him guilty of murder.
The jury heard that in the November, Alex told Mason’s thengirlfriend Caitlyn Lancashire that her boyfriend had sent him “flirty” messages and an explicit video.
Mason denied the allegations to Caitlyn but made payments to Alex’s bank account totalling £ 2,200, Chester Crown Court heard.
In a statement, Alex’s family said their “wonderful, gentle, loving” boy’s “precious life was cut short all too soon”.
They called the killer “selfish, cold and calculating” and added: “Mason has attempted to blame Alex and discredit his name throughout this trial, and thankfully the jury were able to see through his web of deceit.”
Agricultural engineering student Mason, of Ollerton,
Cheshire told the court he did not believe his friends would accept him being gay or bisexual.
Before Alex’s death, Mason searched the web for “what would happen if you kicked someone down the stairs” and “everyday poison”.
On the evening of December 12 he picked up Alex from his Tabley home, drove to a remote spot and told him he could not afford more cash. Mason said he took the wrench because he felt “intimidated” by Alex and intended to use it to “scare” him. He claimed in the woods the younger man threatened to ruin him.
During their ensuing struggle Mason struck him at least 15 times. He left Alex to die and later went to the pub. Mason will be sentenced at a later date.