Prisoner Rashid Gedel Told Staff: "If I've Killed Ian Watkins, I'll Be Famous"

A prisoner accused of murdering musician Ian Watkins, convicted of child sexual offences, told jail staff, "If I've killed him, you could be talking to someone famous," prosecutors informed a jury at Leeds Crown Court.

Watkins, formerly of the band Lostprophets, was found dead in his cell at HMP Wakefield on 11 October, where he had been serving a 29-year sentence.

Prosecutors allege that Rashid Gedel, 25, entered Watkins' cell less than 20 minutes after it was opened for the morning, stabbing him three times in the head and neck with a makeshift knife. Gedel then reportedly passed the weapon to Samuel Dodsworth, 44, for disposal. Both Gedel and Dodsworth have entered pleas of not guilty to murder and possession of a homemade knife within the prison.

The court heard that the attack lasted a mere 20 seconds. Gedel was described as "perky" upon his detention by prison officers. He later informed police that he harboured jealousy towards "nonce prisoners" whom he believed "got treated like royalty," and found it "disgusting" to share a wing with sex offenders at HMP Wakefield, where no segregation was in place. A 2025 inspection found approximately two-thirds of HMP Wakefield inmates were sex offenders.

Prosecution counsel Tom Storey KC characterised the incident as a "joint offence," asserting that Dodsworth was aware of the impending attack. Watkins, described as a "notorious and high-profile" inmate, had reportedly received two threatening notes the day before his death, demanding money and accusing him of causing another prisoner's removal from the wing.

CCTV footage presented in court showed Gedel entering Watkins' cell just before 09:20 BST and emerging 20 seconds later, before approaching Dodsworth and passing him an object. Dodsworth was then seen pocketing the item. Watkins subsequently appeared from his cell with visible blood on his T-shirt neck. Paramedics pronounced Watkins dead just before 10:15.

Prior to all prisoners being locked down, Dodsworth was observed entering an alcove with bins, where prison officers later discovered a homemade, blood-stained knife. Dodsworth claimed to police he was not involved and had attempted to return the knife to Gedel, stating he discarded it in a bin "in panic" after seeing Watkins with a neck wound.

The trial is ongoing.