Matthew Mason found guilty of murdering Alex Rodda, 15, in brutal woodland attack
direct to your inboxA teenager has been found guilty of the murder of schoolboy Alex Rodda.Jurors at Chester Crown Court found Matthew Mason, 19, who had denied the charge, guilty after nine hours and 31 minutes of deliberation by a 10-2 majority.The trial heard Mason, of Ash Farm in Ollerton, Knutsford, had been having underage sex with the 15-year-old in the months leading up to his death, and then killed him to prevent being exposed.Mason had paid Alex, who lived in Pickmere, near Knutsford, more than £2,000 over a three week period, in an attempt to stop his secret coming out.Then, on December 12, 2019, Mason picked up Alex from outside his house and drove him to a secluded woodland area outside Ashley, near Altrincham, prosecutor Ian