direct to your inboxAlex Rodda was a gregarious, openly gay schoolboy of 15 whose short life ended violently in Cheshire woodland a year ago.Jurors in a trial which opened this week have been told by prosecutors that he was beaten to death by a young farmer, Matthew Mason.Mr Mason is said to have been fearful of his sexual 'relationship' with Alex - and his sexual orientation - being made public.In the first week of the trial jurors heard shocking details of Alex's death and how events unravelled in the days and weeks before his body was discovered.The younger boy, the court has heard, was bludgeoned with a wrench near the village of Ashley during the night of December 12, 2019, and his battered semi-naked body found by refuse collectors.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk