Family slam ‘cold and calculated’ teen who killed 15yo over ‘$3400 blackmail plot’
The household of a 15-year-old kid damaged to death with a spanner by his teenage enthusiast in a $3400 blackmail plot have actually blasted his “cold and calculated” killer.
Matthew Mason, 19, sobbed in court after he was condemned of damaging Alex Rodda to death over a plan to expose their sexual relationship.
He killed school child Alex in remote forest in Cheshire on December 12 in 2015.
The killer enticed his enthusiast on the “pretence of sexual activity” prior to bludgeoning him in “cold blood”.
In a declaration, Alex’s household stated: “Our son Alex was a wonderful, gentle, loving, kind, caring, respectful boy who loved life and lived life to the full. His precious life was cut short all too soon at the hands of Matthew Mason.
“Mason admitted killing Alex from the outset of this trial but still felt the need to put us through the trauma of this trial in an attempt to minimise his sentence.”
HOUSEHOLD’S INJURY
“He never once considered the pain it would put our family through, or indeed his own family.
“We have never come across a more selfish, cold and calculating person.
“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.”
Alex was later on discovered partly dressed by refuse collectors after he was reported missing out on.
Today, a jury of 7 ladies and 5 guys discovered Mason guilty of murder by a bulk of 10 to 2 at Chester Crown Court.
Mason seemed sobbing in the dock following the decision. Members of Alex’s household were likewise in tears, as were 2 of the jurors.
Honorary recorder of Chester Judge Steven Everett thanked the jury and stated: “No-one can pretend this has been an easy case.”
KILLER’S TEARS
Jurors heard how Mason, who dealt with his millionaire moms and dads on a farm near Knutsford, had actually started messaging Alex in October 2019.
The texts quickly turned sexual and Mason sent his Year 11 enthusiast a specific picture and video after getting intoxicated.
But Alex threatened to publish the messages online and messaged Mason’s sweetheart of 2 years on November 3.
He composed: “I thought I should let you know that the past 2-3 weeks Matt has been trying to message me he came to my house in his car to meet me last week but I told him my dad wouldn’t let me out so I didn’t meet him.
“I have told him it has to stop but just thought I’d let you know before he does a d***head move and I didn’t know he was dating you until I went to go follow him on lnstagram.”
BLACKMAIL PLOT
He then asked Mason for $87 to stop him putting the screenshot on social networks.
By November 23, Mason had actually paid $3531 to Alex as he was “embarrassed about what had happened”.
On December 12, Mason deceived Alex into fulfilling him in the woods in a homicidal plot to silence him.
Once there, he beat Alex consistently in a “brutal and merciless” attack– ruling a minimum of 15 blows on the school child’s head.
Prosecutor Ian Unsworth QC stated: “The attack was brutal and merciless. The overall pattern of the injuries was indicative of a violent repetitive assault with that wrench estimated to have involved the landing of at least 15 separate heavy blows.
“Alex did not stand a chance. His life ended in those woods.”
The beast teenager left stricken Alex for dead in the woods despite the fact that he might see he was still breathing.
He then made his method to a good friend’s house to tidy himself up and went to good friends in 2 clubs– publishing a selfie from one to “lay the ground” for an alibi.
‘LOST CONTROL’
But after Alex’s body was found, authorities jailed the teenager and discovered dried blood on his hands and fingers and the bloodstained weapon in his automobile.
Mason confessed he eliminating Alex however declared he was acting in self defence after Alex struck him initially.
Mason likewise went back to the woods hours later on to move Alex’s body.
He informed jurors throughout his trial: “When I eventually got control of myself again I remember kneeling on the ground with the spanner in my hand and Alex was lying on the floor, still breathing, quite clearly very injured.
“I felt sick. I couldn’t believe it, I was in shock.”
But authorities discovered cooling online searches he brought– consisting of for “everyday poison” and “mysteries of Cheshire unsolved deaths of missing people”.
He likewise searched for “what would happen if you kicked someone down the stairs” simply days prior to the killing.
‘HE WAS SOULLESS’
During the trial, Alex’s mum exposed how she had actually cautioned her boy to “stay away” from Mason after she saw them both together at their house.
Lisa Rodda stated: “When I looked into that boy’s eyes, I have never ever in my life felt fear … my whole body felt fear.
“His eyes were soulless. He was cold and soulless. He already had that motive in his mind.”
She included: “I said to Alex ‘stay away from that man’. I felt it, what he was going to do to my boy, I felt it.”
Paying homage to her boy, Lisa described how he was a “miracle baby” for her and ex-husband Adam.
She stated: “Alex was very, very special.
“He was just such a joy to be around. He was just so gentle.
“He was a mummy’s boy, he was always hugging me and always calling me ‘Mummy’ up until the day he left.”
Mason will be sentenced on January 25.
Judge Steven Everett informed him: “Frankly, you were convicted on overwhelming evidence.
“You ran this trial as long as you possibly could in the hope you could sneak away from a conviction of murder.”
Detective Inspector Nigel Reid stated: “Mason had murder on his mind as he drove Alex to his death under the pretence of sexual activity.
“He chose a secluded place to kill him in cold blood, a place he believed he would go unseen and his crime undetected.
“I hope the conviction of Mason helps Alex’s family come to terms with such a terrible tragedy.”
This short article initially appeared on The Sun and was recreated here with consent
