Legally Bland
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12:42AMY WALKER
The trial is resuming and Matthew Mason is to begin his evidence
Jurors have been brought back into court for the afternoon.
Matthew Mason, the accused, is to give evidence from the witness box.
12:56AMY WALKER
The defendant accepts he used spanner in attack as he begins his evidence
Mr Mason has confirmed his full name, his age and his address. The jury is hearing evidence about his background and education/work in farming.
He confirmed he gained nine GCSEs from Holmes Chapel School and went on to do an extended diploma at Reaseheath College.
When asked by his barrister Gordon Cole QC what his plan for the future was, he said:
The plan was to carry on working at the family farm.
I did work on the farm occasionally and I wanted to start my own business eventually working on farm machinery.
I enjoyed college and the practical sides of things, I’m a hands on person. I also worked part time at JK Ashbrooks. I learnt how to maintain machinery. You were expected to have your own tools.
When asked if he accepted he used the spanner in the attack, he said yes.
He went on to tell the jury he passed his tractor driving test at 16, and once he had passed his car driving test he was put on the company insurance to drive tractors, deliver machinery and help customers. He planned to stay there until he finished his course.
13:08KEY EVENT
Defendant breaks down in tears in the dock and accepts 'my actions caused the death of Alex Rodda'
When asked about his sexuality, Mr Mason told the jury:
I’ve never had any trouble with my sexuality before.
I’ve always been straight and been in relationships with girls, but after a couple of weeks of receiving messages from Alex Rodda, I started questioning this and thought I was bisexual. Even after me and Caitlyn separated after Alex Rodda messaged her, I still carried on seeing her, we met up a few times and I stayed around her house.
When asked how the situation made him feel, he said:
After the relationship with Caitlyn broke down, I felt depressed. When the relationship fell apart, we’d been together nearly two years, we had some happy memories together. It still upsets me now. In the coming weeks up until the events of December 12, I started struggling sleeping.
Mr Mason then broke down in tears.
“How did you feel about your life?” Mr Cole QC asked him.
He replied: “I did start to feel suicidal.”
Mr Mason went on to confirm he had been in a relationship with Caitlyn Lancashire for two years.
When asked if he admitted responsibility to her for killing Alex Rodda, he said yes, and when asked if he accepts this now, he told the jury:
I still accept my actions caused the death of Alex Rodda.
When asked how he felt about that, he said: “Ashamed.”
13:15AMY WALKER
Defendant and victim knew each other from school
Mr Mason confirmed he knew Alex Rodda from school and said he may have said a “passing hello” but he never had contact with him socially before.
He also said they were friends on Facebook but didn’t speak on social media.
The court has now broken for lunch and the trial will resume in around an hour.
Alex Rodda murder trial: Latest updates from court
The trial is resuming and Matthew Mason is to begin his evidence
Jurors have been brought back into court for the afternoon.
Matthew Mason, the accused, is to give evidence from the witness box.
12:56AMY WALKER
The defendant accepts he used spanner in attack as he begins his evidence
Mr Mason has confirmed his full name, his age and his address. The jury is hearing evidence about his background and education/work in farming.
He confirmed he gained nine GCSEs from Holmes Chapel School and went on to do an extended diploma at Reaseheath College.
When asked by his barrister Gordon Cole QC what his plan for the future was, he said:
The plan was to carry on working at the family farm.
I did work on the farm occasionally and I wanted to start my own business eventually working on farm machinery.
I enjoyed college and the practical sides of things, I’m a hands on person. I also worked part time at JK Ashbrooks. I learnt how to maintain machinery. You were expected to have your own tools.
When asked if he accepted he used the spanner in the attack, he said yes.
He went on to tell the jury he passed his tractor driving test at 16, and once he had passed his car driving test he was put on the company insurance to drive tractors, deliver machinery and help customers. He planned to stay there until he finished his course.
13:08KEY EVENT
Defendant breaks down in tears in the dock and accepts 'my actions caused the death of Alex Rodda'
When asked about his sexuality, Mr Mason told the jury:
I’ve never had any trouble with my sexuality before.
I’ve always been straight and been in relationships with girls, but after a couple of weeks of receiving messages from Alex Rodda, I started questioning this and thought I was bisexual. Even after me and Caitlyn separated after Alex Rodda messaged her, I still carried on seeing her, we met up a few times and I stayed around her house.
When asked how the situation made him feel, he said:
After the relationship with Caitlyn broke down, I felt depressed. When the relationship fell apart, we’d been together nearly two years, we had some happy memories together. It still upsets me now. In the coming weeks up until the events of December 12, I started struggling sleeping.
Mr Mason then broke down in tears.
“How did you feel about your life?” Mr Cole QC asked him.
He replied: “I did start to feel suicidal.”
Mr Mason went on to confirm he had been in a relationship with Caitlyn Lancashire for two years.
When asked if he admitted responsibility to her for killing Alex Rodda, he said yes, and when asked if he accepts this now, he told the jury:
I still accept my actions caused the death of Alex Rodda.
When asked how he felt about that, he said: “Ashamed.”
13:15AMY WALKER
Defendant and victim knew each other from school
Mr Mason confirmed he knew Alex Rodda from school and said he may have said a “passing hello” but he never had contact with him socially before.
He also said they were friends on Facebook but didn’t speak on social media.
The court has now broken for lunch and the trial will resume in around an hour.
Alex Rodda murder trial: Latest updates from court