‘Hush money’ paid to boy killed in woods
A SCHOOLBOY found dead in the woods had been given ‘hush money’ by the young man accused of murdering him to keep their sexual relationship secret - and ‘saw it as a game’, a jury has heard.
Matthew Mason, 19, beat Alex Rodda to death with a large metal wrench in Ashley, Cheshire, on December 12 last year, prosecutors have said.
The Crown claims Mr Mason, who was 18 at the time, killed Alex because he was being blackmailed after paying him for sex.
Prosecutors allege Mr Mason continued to pay Alex in a bid to keep the relationship a secret.
Payments of more than £2,000 were made, jurors have previously heard.
Mr Mason denies murder. Gordon Cole QC, defending, has told jurors they will have to consider whether the killing was selfdefence or if there was a loss of control.
On day five of the murder trial at Chester Crown Court, a ‘close friend’ of Alex gave evidence.
Questioned by the prosecution, Georgina Wiseman, 19, said Alex told her he was in a sexual relationship with Mr Mason.
“He said Matt offered him an accumulation of money over time, totting up to £400, for him to keep quiet about their relationship,” she told jurors.
She told jurors: “He said he sent Matt a text where he threatened to reveal their relationship if he didn’t give him the money.”
She added “Alex said he threatened him [Mr Mason] with the sex offenders register’”
Questioned by the defence, Ms Wiseman said: “It was like hush money to protect Matt as he didn’t want people knowing the truth about him.”
Earlier, the court heard from Andrew Gibson, Mr Mason’s boss at JK Ashbrooks Ltd.
He told the jury the apprentice engineer said he was receiving ‘loads of messages off a lad’.
Mr Gibson said: “We realised it was from a 15-year-old.
“I took his phone and sent a message to the lad saying ‘you are too young, leave me alone’.
“I spoke with him [Mr Mason] on a regular basis and asked him if it had stopped and he told me it had.”
Mr Gibson said Mr Mason had asked for loans of £300 and £400 on numerous occasions.
Mr Mason, of Ash Farm in Ollerton, Knutsford, denies murder.
● Proceeding