GUILTY UK - Alex Rodda, 15, murdered, Cheshire village, Ashley,13 Dec 2019 *Arrest*

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10:23AMY WALKER
Trial resuming today (January 5)
The trial is resuming.

A note has been handed to the judge from the jury regarding an issue of law. The jury are being sent out for five or ten minutes to allow for the Judge to discuss issue of law with counsel.

10:55AMY WALKER
Jury and judge discussing legal matters
The jury has been brought back to court.

The judge is discussing the matters of law with the jury.

11:16BENJAMIN BLOSSE
Judge taking jury though evidence in case
The judge is now taking the jury through the evidence in the case.

Judge Steven Everett said: "It may be one of the real issues you have to consider is what was happening in Matthew Mason's mind at the time when he pulled up on that road, and whether you can be sure of what happened 20 minutes into that walk"

"We also know that Alex Rodda contacted Caitlyn Lancashire [Mr Mason's ex-girlfriend] on November 3 and informed her of his relationship with Matthew Mason.

"We know on November 5, Matthew Mason was indeed at Holly Grove. After that Matthew Mason made 19 back payments to Alex Rodda between November 4 and December 9 totalling £2,217.

"There were communications between them on three specific dates, November 19, November 21 and November 22."

The jury is now being directed to messages between Alex Rodda and Matthew Mason.

Alex Rodda murder trial: Live updates as trial approaches final stages
 
11:33AMY WALKER
'Real issue' between prosecution and defence over defendant's searches
"Alex was demanding money," the judge told the jury.

"We know on December 6, Matthew Mason's internet searches.

"This was in relation to falling down the stairs and missing people in Cheshire, this will give you a look into what was in Matthew Mason's mind.

"We will come back to that. There is a real issue between prosecution and defence between that.

"This was the day before Matthew Mason was seen at the top of the stairs in Lisa Rodda's home with Alex Rodda.

"What were those internet searches being looked for? Had this been an indication or had it been like Matthew Mason said in his evidence that he was looking at ways to kill himself?"

11:46AMY WALKER
Judge going through witnesses' evidence with the jury
We are now looking at the evidence.

The judge has said that a lot of the witnesses were 'young women' who were friends with Alex Rodda, and 'young men' who were friends with Mr Mason.

"Regarding the first witness, she knew Matthew Mason had gone to Alex Rodda's house when Alex's mum was away.

"She said she and Alex had discussed what had taken place and they had been talking about 'Matt' had 'bent him over' or something'. She said Matthew Mason was picking Alex up at his house, and said Alex said they had sex about five times."

"Regarding the second witness, she never met Matthew Mason. She said Alex spent money on clothes and stuff. She told the interviewing officer that when she was telling Alex off, he was 'not bothered'.

"She didn't know how much they had met, but she said she knew they were messaging five times a week. She said Matthew Mason was 'a farmer and stuff' and he 'didn't want his family to know'.

"Speaking of the third witness, she was aware Alex had gone in Matthew Mason's car, and he was supposed to be dropped off at her house, but he never was. At this stage of the interview she didn't know Alex's body had been recovered.

"She said they had been texting on Snapchat but at some stage it was switched off and there was no signal. She said: "Alex told me Matt went to his house and there was sexual activity. He said he would give Alex money as he was scared Alex would tell people. He thought farmers would take the mickey out of Matt."

"She also said she didn't feel Alex had maliciously said to give him money."

11:54AMY WALKER
Judy reminded of witness' evidence where she talked about exchange of money
Going into the next witnesses evidence, Judge Everett said: "She said Alex was gay, girls accepted this more than boys. She said there had been messages the previous day.

"She described the defendant being 'closet gay' and Alex said he would never say anything.

"She said Alex found a way to get something out of it, namely money. She said Matthew Mason was taking Alex to a 'special place'.

"She said Alex said can you not take me for food, Alex was 'assuming the worst' and she said 'Matt' gave him money totalling 'two grand' and then 'Matt' said he was going to stop giving him money.

"She went on to say that Alex messaged her saying: "How weird is this". She said he then went on to say about the 'secret place in the forest'.

"She said Alex had told her not to tell anyone about it. What was the reason for Alex saying 'this is weird'? That's for you to decide."

Looking at another witness's evidence, the judge said: "I told him, you can't do that, '' she said. She said she felt bad for 'Matt' at that time. She then said: "He said it's fine it's not going to be forever'. She said Alex told her he was just offering him money at the start."

Georgia Wiseman was the next witness, the judge summarised her evidence saying: "Alex told me he was threatening him with the Sex Offenders Register, he didn't understand.

"The difference between him being a child and an adult - he was naive. I don't think he understood the concept of everything, I think he thought it was a game. She said she felt uncomfortable about the situation. She said he was naive and he just didn't understand."

"The features may or may not assist you," the Judge said.

Alex Rodda murder trial: Live updates as trial approaches final stages
 
12:00AMY WALKER
Judge reminds jury witness said 'Matt wanted to keep Alex quiet'
We are looking at another witness's evidence now, Judge Everett said: "She said he was different, just the way he walked around, he seemed like he was glowing, he had a confidence about him. Regarding matters of money, she said: "If you don't pay me I will go to the police about you having sex with an underage child."

"Alex was always himself, he didn't care what people thought. Matt obviously wanted to keep Alex quiet, she said".

The jury is being reminded of an incident when Alex was punched in the summer holidays of 2018.

It's previously been said that Alex 'ran away in tears' after being punched in the cheek.

"So what do you think of that, in relation to the incident in the woods with Matthew Mason? That's for you to decide" the judge said.

12:07AMY WALKER
'Alex told witness he had received over £2,000'
Recalling the evidence from another witness, a friend of Alex Rodda, the judge said: "She said Alex told her he had been doing someone who was overage.

"She also said there was money deposits and Alex told her the person he was seeing was paying him to keep the relationship a secret, but she didn't say how often.

"She went on to say on December 6 there was a party in the pub and Alex told her had received over £2,200.

"She went on to say she didn't explicitly say there was anything in his character, there was no malice and he never asked for money. She also said it was quite clear the money was to stay quiet."

We are now taking a short break.

12:40AMY WALKER
Judge recalling Alex Rodda's mother's evidence
We are now looking back at the evidence of Lisa Rodda, Alex's mum.

"She described her son in glowing terms. The emotion was enormous. The atmosphere was electric. What else would you expect, her son had died.

"She said he was a miracle baby, a gift. She said he flourished at school.

"She said he loved his mobile, like all children."

Speaking of the occasion when she saw Mr Mason at her home on December 7, the judge recalled: "She said she had nipped into the village (Northwich) to sort her phone out.

"When she got back to the house the front door was locked and the back door was on the latch. She said she went in and saw 'these man's boots' by the door to go into the house.

"She said she shouted for Alex and said she felt disturbed by seeing the boots.

"She said Alex was in the doorway of his bedroom and 'the other' - something she called Mr Mason - was standing by him.

"She said that Alex was flustered, and 'the other' didn't speak. She said Alex said he was a friend and just passing and she said she said he had to leave. She said a comment about his 'soulless eyes'.

"That is an opinion. Having the benefit of hindsight you could say she now knew she met the person who killed her son. She said she had never seen this man before and looked older than Alex."

The judge also recalled Lisa Rodda's evidence of the phone call between her and Mr Mason, wherein she told him he was a 'liar' and told him to ' off*, when he offered to help them look for the missing Alex.

"She was out basically all night until 7.30 that morning. She was then cross examined in great detail regarding the date of December 7. There was an issue whether or not there was anal sex on that occasion."

Alex Rodda murder trial: Live updates as trial approaches final stages
 
12:50AMY WALKER
Jury hears evidence from defendan't former manager
We are now looking at evidence from friends of Matthew Mason.

The judge has summarised the evidence of Mr Mason's former manager who told the jury that he was asked for many payments from Mr Mason.

The judge said: "He said on November 25 Matthew contacted him asking to borrow £2,000. He said he wouldn't tell him what the money was for so he didn't give it to him. He went on to say in cross examination that Matt was 'a young lad full of life' and 'he liked him a hell of a lot'.

"When asked if he noticed a change in mood in the latter months of the year, he said: "yeah, he went quiet."

We are hearing evidence of another friend of Mr Mason, the judge said: "He said on one occasion the defendant asked to borrow £700 and said he 'just got to pay this guy'. He added on December 7 he was in the car with Mr Mason when he saw that Mr Mason got a message, he looked at it and started 'tearing up' and went quiet.

"Another friend said that Mr Mason was sometimes quiet, but seemed a bit quiet up to December 2019.

"On November 22 Matthew Mason rang him at 4pm and got 'straight to the point' saying that he was struggling for money as he had an overdue car service and MOT and said he needed about £700. He said he discussed the matter with his mother and father and he didn't give him the money."

12:55AMY WALKER
Defendant was 'desperate for money', friend recalls
Judge Everett is telling the jury of James Clark, another friend of Mr Mason. He said: "He said Mr Mason was desperate for money - it was a bit awkward. He said he seemed really down and depressed and 'not like himself' but he put it down to the break up with Caitlyn."

Another friend, who's outside toilet was used by Mr Mason after the incident, said 'he recalled Mr Mason pointing to spots of blood on his leg and said it was from a nosebleed."

13:03AMY WALKER
Judge now going through initial police investigation with the jury
The judge had also briefly summarised evidence from the friends who were with Mr Mason at the Red Lion pub and Golden Pheasant after the incident. "they said he was his normal self," The judge told the jury.

Moving on to the accounts of the bin men who tragically found Alex's body the morning of December 13, Judge Everett said: "You may think these gentlemen should receive commendations. They were driving along that road when they saw Alex's body lying face down. He went on to do the difficult task and performed CPR on Alex."

The judge is now going through the initial police investigation, reminding the jury of the statements of the paramedics, police constable and crime scene investigator.

Recalling the evidence of the crime scene investigator, Judge Everett said: "There was evidence he [Alex] had been dragged along through the woods and the investigator found blood on the ground or the foliage, which confirmed that particular movement."

We are now breaking for lunch.

Alex Rodda murder trial: Live updates as trial approaches final stages
 
14:26
Hearing resumes
The judge is answering questions from the jury about evidence heard during the trial.

14:49
Judge talks jury through pathologist's evidence
The judge is now taking the jury through the evidence of pathologist Dr Johnson.

Judge Everett said:

He described Alex as well-nourished, 6 ft 1 and 15 stone.

He described external head injuries, with dirt staining on his body and split blunt wounds to his face and scalp and the injuries were most likely caused by a blunt instrument.

That is not in dispute.

The judge is now taking the jury through the 15 lacerations to Alex’s scalp.

He said in his conclusions that Alex Rodda was attacked in a wooded area 20m away from the entrance to the woods which caused at least 15 lacerations, caused by a blunt force trauma and deep scalp bruising.

There was also a skull fracture and deep bruising to the left shoulder and arm.

He said there was a period of survival, but Alex would have been unconscious.

He went on to say this was a ‘violent and repetitive’ assault, with at least 15 injuries, namely blunt force head injuries and that was the cause of death.

In recollection, there were actually 18 blunt force injuries.

14:52
Judge's summing up of pathologist's report continues
Going through Matthew Mason’s injuries in the pathologist report, Judge Everett said:

There was no sign or bruising or injuries to the face or knees, there was no bruising to the knees suggested by a scientist who saw Mr Mason.

The many scratches came from contact with rough vegetation and could have taken place from falling, scuffling or dragging Alex’s body.

He said there is no support for any forceful blows to the defendant.

He said a spanner is heavy and he would have expected to see similar injuries to those caused to Alex Rodda.

He said ‘I think Matthew Masons’ injuries were caused by vegetation rather than anything else’.

He said the attack was probably quite quick and Alex would have been unconscious after his skull was fractured.”

15:00
Summary of Mr Mason's arrest
The jury is now being taken through the police investigation, including the chase leading up to Mr Mason’s arrest - and the arrest itself.

The judge said:

Officers followed at speed when they saw him.

The defendant’s car was later spotted on the A41 in Knutsford at 11am.

You have heard that the defendant was spoken to by the officer’s and the window was smashed.

He was arrested at noon.

The judge also summarised the police interviews with Mr Mason.

Alex Rodda murder trial: Live updates as trial approaches final stages
 
15:14
Caitlyn Lancashire's evidence summarised
The evidence of Caitlyn Lancashire, Mr Mason’s ex girlfriend, is now being summarised.

The judge tells the jury:

She said she had been dating the defendant from Christmas 2017.

Then something out of the blue, came a message from Alex Rodda in November 2019.

She raised the messages with the defendant and he said he never met up, but later said he had been talking to him - we know that’s not true.

They continued to meet as friends. She said she wanted to move on.

On December 11, she said she was out riding when Matthew Mason messaged her a few times but she didn’t want to speak to him.

In the following days she said he sent her a picture of his feet which she said was ‘a bit weird’ but he said he was fine.

She said she tried to call him by phone but it went through to answerphone.

She admitted that she visited him in prison and on the first occasion he confessed to killing Alex Rodda.

He didn’t give any detail. He was very emotional and she said she wanted to know what was going on. Matt said he agreed to meet Alex to say he couldn’t go on. Matt said Alex had punched him then he started to cry and said ‘I killed him’.

He said Alex was blackmailing him. She said Matt said Alex hit him first after he got angry.”

Alex Rodda murder trial: Live updates as trial approaches final stages
 
15:22
Defence case summarised
We are now going through the defence case.

Judge Everett said:

We know he’s 19-years-old now, he was 18 in December last year.

He is coming up to 20 in January.

He lives on Ash farm with his parents, and two sisters, he went to Holmes Chapel Comprehensive school and left at age 16.

He got nine GCSEs and went to Reaseheath College. He was in his final year.

He said he intended to work on his family’s farm and enjoyed mending the farm machinery.

He said he started receiving messages from Alex, and thought he might be bisexual.

He also said he ‘still wished it worked out with Caitlyn’.

He said he felt upset especially after finishing with Caitlyn.

He said coming up to December he was having trouble sleeping and you will remember he became emotional.

He said he did start to feel suicidal and never had thoughts like that before.

He said that he became emotional on Caitlyn’s first visit when he admitted to killing Alex Rodda.

He also accepted: “My actions caused the death of Alex Rodda.”

Asked how he felt about that he said he was ‘ashamed’.

He went on to say he knew of him for five years, but Alex was a few years younger.

15:43AMY WALKER
Judge takes the jury through Mr Mason's account of what happened on November 5
The judge is taking the jury through Mr Mason’s evidence, namely his account of what happened on November 5.

He said he went to Alex Rodda’s house that day. He said Alex said Caitlyn asked him what was going on so Alex wanted £120.

He said he went into Alex’s house as he wanted a discussion about the money situation. He said he was there for maybe about five to ten minutes.

He said Alex tried to ‘kiss me’ and started undoing his trousers and started giving me oral sex. He said: “This went on for a minute max. I went to try and get him off and he was begging me to stay, but I felt uncomfortable and wanted to go home.”

When asked why he paid the money to Alex he said: “I was panicking, I didn’t want people to find out. I didn’t want anyone finding out.”

He said Alex said to him he would either ruin his life financially or socially.


Looking at the events of December 7 when Alex’s mum, Lisa Rodda, found Matthew Mason at the house, Judge Everett said: “Mr Mason said that Alex introduced him as ‘Matt’ and said he had been selling him cannabis and Lisa Rodda just said hello.”

The judge summarised that Matthew later received messages from Alex about picking up cannabis for him and his mum, and that he needed more money.

15:59AMY WALKER
The judge is now revisiting Mr Mason's account of the night Alex was killed
Judge Everett went on to say that Mr Mason said he considered loans and even asked his granny for money.

We are now moving to the events of December 12.

He said there was a discussion about the wooded area between the two of them. He said Alex had asked him for a lift to Holmes Chapel as he was going to Manchester shopping with friends.

Evidence from other people suggests Alex never intended to go shopping in Manchester.

He said he knew the wooded area existed. He said he stopped the car and said to Alex if he wanted to stay in the car, and he said no in case other cars came past.

He said he got the spanner and got out of the car - he said he kept tools on the floor in his car in case he had been working - and he then put the spanner up his sleeve.

He said he felt intimidated and threatened. He said he intended to have a conversation about no future payments. He said he just wanted Alex to understand what he was feeling.

He said he thought he might wave it around and show him that he was serious about wanting it to stop. He said he didn’t know where the phone was until after the violence.

15:59AMY WALKER
The judge is now revisiting Mr Mason's account of the night Alex was killed
Judge Everett went on to say that Mr Mason said he considered loans and even asked his granny for money.

We are now moving to the events of December 12.

He said there was a discussion about the wooded area between the two of them. He said Alex had asked him for a lift to Holmes Chapel as he was going to Manchester shopping with friends.

Evidence from other people suggests Alex never intended to go shopping in Manchester.

He said he knew the wooded area existed. He said he stopped the car and said to Alex if he wanted to stay in the car, and he said no in case other cars came past.

He said he got the spanner and got out of the car - he said he kept tools on the floor in his car in case he had been working - and he then put the spanner up his sleeve.

He said he felt intimidated and threatened. He said he intended to have a conversation about no future payments. He said he just wanted Alex to understand what he was feeling.

He said he thought he might wave it around and show him that he was serious about wanting it to stop. He said he didn’t know where the phone was until after the violence.

Alex Rodda murder trial: Live updates as trial approaches final stages
 
16:18AMY WALKER
"He said he didn’t take him to the woods to kill him."
The judge is continuing to summarise Matthew Mason’s account of the events of December 12:

He said they walked into the woods and Alex undid the buttons on his trousers and [he] told him to stop. He said he told Alex that he didn’t have the money.

He said it was making him feel depressed and suicidal and said Alex just didn’t seem bothered. He said Alex called him ‘*advertiser censored**ng stupid’ and again said he would ‘*advertiser censored**ing ruin him’.

He said Alex carried on calling him stupid and an idiot then pushed Mr Mason over and punched him, and when this happened the spanner fell out of his jacket.

He said Alex kept hitting him and picked the spanner up and hit him with it. He then said he managed to get the spanner off him and he did hit Alex with it, hard.

He said he remembered hitting him at least twice but couldn’t recall hitting him more than that. He does accept the pathology report.

Judge Everett continued:

He said Alex was still breathing. He said he didn’t mean to kill him and he didn’t want to kill him. He said he didn’t take him to the woods to kill him.

He said he fell ill and sick and ‘couldn’t really believe it’. He said he was in shock and went back to the car to get his cigarettes.

He said after he had his cigarette he noticed that Alex was still breathing. He then said he decided to leave.

He said he thought about going home but he felt sick and he was heaving so had to pull over, and it was at this point he noticed the phone and threw it out of the window.

16:21AMY WALKER
"An explicit photo he sent to Alex was the downfall of the relationship"
The judge is continuing to go through the defendant’s evidence:

He said he went to his friend’s house, he said he thought it was the best thing to do.

He said he avoided going to the police and said ‘my head was in a mess’ and said he didn’t know what to say and wasn’t thinking in a clear way. He said he ‘wanted to get some normality back into his life’, and this was important to him.

He later admitted to knowing about the phone after hearing his friends give evidence. He also agreed that an explicit photo he sent to Alex was the downfall of the relationship.

Looking at the internet searches, Mr Mason said he was searching the terms as he was depressed and wanted to kill himself.

16:33AMY WALKER
“He said Alex didn’t deserve it and he had done nothing to warrant it."
“He said he thought the most normal thing to do was to meet [his] friends,” Judge Everett continued.

Moving to the cross examination, in summary, Judge Everett said:

He said he was quite shocked following the attack. He said he was quite upset with himself and he felt ashamed. He said ‘I did think I should have gone back sooner and whether I should have left him.

He said Alex didn’t deserve it and he had done nothing to warrant it. He said he had thought about calling the emergency services but ‘not enough’. He said he was thinking about this in the pub.

He said he was ‘trying to hold everything together but Alex had been asking for money. When asked what he thought about this he said he thought he was ‘being a bit of a bully’.

Alex Rodda murder trial: Live updates as trial approaches final stages
 
16:38AMY WALKER
The case has concluded for the day
Judge Everett is now summarising what Mr Mason said when asked by prosecuting counsel why he stayed with the body for an hour:

Mr Mason answered him and said he was unsure what to do, whether to call the police and them know. He said he went back and moved the body and said it took him ‘quite a while to move the body’.

Judge Everett added: “He said ‘no comment’ in his interview, because he said he was advised to do so by his solicitor.”

The judge also summarised more of the cross examination regarding messages.

We have concluded for the day. The summing up will continue tomorrow morning from 10am.

Alex Rodda murder trial: Live updates as trial approaches final stages
 
10:07AMY WALKER
Trial is resuming
The trial is resuming - the jury is being brought back into court.

10:12AMY WALKER
Judge resumes summing up
The judge is resuming his summing up of the case.

He told the jury: "The defendant answered questions from Mr Unsworth QC concerning getting rid of the phone.

"He hadn't admitted that previously. He admitted he thought this would impact his case, he said that's why he kept quiet.

"When asked what messages might be found on Alex's phone that wouldn't help, he said he didn't know."

10:22AMY WALKER
Judge goes over defendant's evidence
Returning to Mr Mason's evidence regarding events of December 12, Judge Everett said: "We then move onto the messages between Mr Mason and Alex Rodda before they went out that evening.

"The defendant agreed Alex may have thought they were going to the woods for sex. When asked if this was his intention to have sex, he said no, he wanted to discuss the money and convey how serious he was.

"He denied having discussions about money on the phone and said he wanted to talk face to face with him."

The judge said that it was put to Mr Mason by the prosecutor that Alex appeared to be excited about them going out in their messages, saying: "Mr Mason said Alex still wanted the money and he appeared to be his normal self."

"He denied pushing Alex into going to this secret place."

The judge reminded the jury that Mr Mason was asked about his internet search, namly 'missing people in Cheshire', and he said he had an 'interest' in it, and when asked why he said he didn't know.

Alex Rodda murder trial: Jury sent out to deliberate verdict - live updates
 
10:30AMY WALKER
Judge goes over events in defendant's car in moments before attack
Moving to the events in Mr Mason's car, Judge Everett told the jury: "He was challenged about asking Alex if he wanted to stay in the car.

"You will remember he said no, he wanted to go into the woods in case other cars were going by. He was asked what they would have discussed if they stayed in the car, he said he would have told him the money would have to stop as he couldn't afford it. It was then put to him that it was his intention to mislead and deceive Alex."

The judge said: "It was put to him that Alex had done nothing for him to launch a 'physical attack'. The defendant said only that he wanted the money."

The judge recalled that Mr Mason told jurors he took the wrench with him to the woods to 'show Alex he was serious'.

He then agreed it was to scare Alex and said it was to threaten Alex with violence if the demands of money didn't stop, the judge said.

10:45AMY WALKER
'He said after he hit Alex for the first time, Alex was still standing and not trying to run away'
"He said he didn't want Alex to see the wrench in case Alex was understanding of the situation and he agreed he didn't need to have this sort of conversation in the woods," the judge told the jury.

He continued: "He said it seemed like a good place to stop and have a conversation and then said Alex began unbuttoning his trousers and Alex's trousers ended up by his ankles when he moved him later.

"He denied hitting Alex when he was vulnerable and he said he was defending himself. Mr Mason said: "he hit me to the right side of my temple", he said he hit him hard and it bruised.

"He then said after he hit Alex for the first time, Alex was still standing and not trying to run away, but thought he might have been trying to 'dodge'."

The judge said Mr Mason didn't accept it was a 'ruthless attack' and said he was 'at breaking point'. He also agreed it was an imbalance of injuries, the jury was told.

Mr Mason was then pressed further about the struggle, the judge said.

10:46
Injuries to the back of Alex’s head took place when he was face down on the floor
The judge continued:

He accepted he took the spanner off him and said Alex posed no threat, but said Alex threw the odd punch. He denied that Alex was trying to fend off his blows but said he might have put his arm up.

When asked about the injuries to the back of Alex’s head he said these took place when Alex was face down on the floor. He was saying things he previously couldn’t remember. He agreed Alex was not capable of defending himself and posed no threat. When asked why he was still striking him, he said he ‘didn’t know’.

He denied there was sexual activity before the blows were struck and reiterated that Alex hit him first. It was put to him that what he did was cowardly, and he said yes, it was over-excessive because it killed him. He agreed it was out of proportion.

Alex Rodda murder trial: Jury sent out to deliberate verdict - live updates
 
10:51
Judge reminds jury of Mr Mason's claim that he tried to move the body so Alex would be found
The judge continued:

He said he was unable to say how many blows there were. He said he stopped then went to his car to get his cigarettes.

He said Alex was unconscious but breathing. He said he didn’t say anything to Alex as he didn’t think about that. He said he did eventually leave Alex. he said he was scared of getting into trouble. It was put to him that he left him for dead, but he said he didn’t think of that.

He agreed that he didn’t help Alex and he went to meet his friends for a pint, the judge said.

He said he was at breaking point because ‘he had enough of it’. He agreed five days earlier that he had sex with Alex. He denied the selfie taken in the pub was a deliberate alibi.

When asked how he felt, he said ‘terrible’. He said he was panicking and that’s why he went back to the wooded area.

He said he was panicking that Alex’s body might have been moved and said he decided that he wanted Alex to be found so tried to move his body so that Alex would be found.

10:52
The jury has now been sent out
The judge has now finished his summing up.

He has advised the jury on matters of law on how to reach their verdict and said they must reach a unanimous verdict.

The ushers have been sworn in and the jury has now been sent out for their deliberations.

Alex Rodda murder trial: Jury sent out to deliberate verdict - live updates
 
16:29
Jury sent home for the day
The jury has been sent home for the day.

Judge Everett told jurors:

Just to stress some of the things I have said to you before.

It’s important after you have left this court that you shouldn’t discuss the case with anyone else or allow anyone else to talk about it.

It’s the essence of the jury system that you should reach your verdict when you are together in the jury room.

The verdict must only be on the evidence and arguments heard in court.

Once you have left the court, you shouldn’t search for any further evidence or information about the case.

You should not discuss the case with anyone else or attempt to contact each other.

The trial has concluded for the day and will resume tomorrow at 10am.

Alex Rodda murder trial: Jury sent out to deliberate verdict - live updates
 
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