Jury Discharged in Trial of Two Inmates Accused of Ian Watkins Prison Murder
The jury tasked with hearing the case against two inmates charged with the murder of former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has been discharged.
Watkins, 48, was stabbed to death with a makeshift weapon in his cell at the high-security HMP Wakefield on 11 October last year. He had been serving a 29-year sentence since December 2013 for a series of sex offences, including the attempted rape of an infant.
Rico Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 44, both serving prisoners, had pleaded not guilty to murder and possession of a knife. Mr Justice Hilliard, addressing the jury at Leeds Crown Court on Friday, expressed reluctance in discharging them, stating that the case would require a re-trial.
Details of the Attack and Allegations
During the proceedings, the court heard that Gedel entered Watkins' cell approximately 20 minutes after it was unlocked for the morning. He then allegedly stabbed Watkins in the head and neck using a blade taped to a piece of plastic cutlery.
CCTV footage reportedly showed Gedel passing the weapon to Dodsworth upon exiting the cell, with Dodsworth subsequently wrapping it in tissue and disposing of it in a bin. Prosecutors contended that Dodsworth was complicit in the murder, having allegedly known about the impending attack and assisting by hiding the weapon.
Gedel, already serving a life sentence for murder, was observed reportedly grinning and laughing after the stabbing, asking prison officers to be informed when Watkins died. He was also recorded making taunting remarks towards Watkins as he received medical attention.
Gedel testified that he harboured animosity towards being housed with sex offenders and had threatened harm to "any number of paedophiles" if he was not transferred. He stated he chose Watkins due to "proximity," having been moved to the adjacent cell the night before the incident.
Dodsworth, incarcerated for rape, maintained his innocence, claiming he was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time. He stated Gedel handed him the knife and he panicked upon seeing an injured Watkins, leading him to discard the weapon.
