Published • loading... • Updated
Ian Watkins' alleged murderer was 'smug' and 'smirking' after jail cell attack, court hears
Prison officers told jurors Gedel appeared smug after the killing, and the court heard he had threatened to seek segregation before the attack.
- Leeds Crown Court is hearing the murder trial of Rico Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 44, accused of stabbing former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins to death in his HMP Wakefield cell on October 11 last year.
- Prison officer Adam Laycock testified that Gedel was 'unhappy' about being relocated from A wing to B wing the day before the attack and had threatened to 'do something to get moved to segregation.'
- Following the incident, officers described Gedel as 'smug' and 'smirking,' while prison officer Andrew Chaplin noted he was 'perky' and 'laughing and joking' about football and rugby through his cell door.
- During his time in segregation at HMP Long Lartin, Gedel appeared 'proud of what had happened' and told staff, 'If I've killed him you could be talking to someone famous,' claiming he 'felt like a celebrity.'
- Both defendants deny murder and possession of a makeshift weapon; jurors heard the weapon was a Stanley knife attached to plastic cutlery with tape, allegedly disposed of by Dodsworth after leaving Watkins' cell.
Insights by Ground AI
19 Articles
19 Articles
Ian Watkins murder accused claims 'wrong place at wrong time' during trial
Samuel Dodsworth, 43, told Leeds Crown Court he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, as he stands trial alongside Rico Gedel, 25, accused of murdering Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins at HMP Wakefield on October 11 last year
·Liverpool, United Kingdom
Read Full Article
Where are the Lostprophets members now after Ian Watkins was killed in prison?
The Lostprophets were one of the UK's leading rock bands of the 2000s, but the group disbanded in 2013 following the conviction of frontman Ian Watkins, who was later killed in prison in October 2025
·Wales, United Kingdom
Read Full Article
Suspect in prison killing of rock frontman made chilling comment after attack: report
A prisoner accused of killing former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins reportedly told guards they “could be talking to someone famous” after the attack, a prosecutor told a jury at Leeds Crown Court, according to the Guardian.
·Cleveland, United States
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources19
Leaning Left3Leaning Right2Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution58% Center
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources are Center
58% Center
L 25%
C 58%
R 17%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
