One of the individuals facing trial for the killing of Ian Watkins, the former Lostprophets vocalist, informed the jury that he uttered “this is what paedophiles deserve” as he carried out a throat-slashing act on Watkins.
Ian Watkins, aged 48, passed away following an assault in October at HMP Wakefield, where he was serving a 29-year prison term for crimes related to child sexual abuse.
Rico Gedel, aged 25, is currently on trial at Leeds Crown Court for murder, together with Samuel Dodsworth, aged 43. Gedel claimed in court that Dodsworth provided him with the makeshift weapon used in the incident.
During his testimony on Wednesday, Gedel recounted the events of October 11 last year when he stabbed and slashed Watkins. He expressed feeling “set up” as he had repeatedly expressed his disdain for sex offenders to prison staff. Gedel alleged that the prison officers were aware of his intentions.
Gedel disclosed that he felt compelled to target a sex offender to secure a transfer to segregation and had previously indicated his intentions to a probation worker.
He emphasized his repugnance towards sexual offenders, highlighting the lifelong impact of such crimes on the victims. Gedel also revealed his prior conviction for murder in 2023, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal despite his appeal attempts.
Throughout his testimony, Gedel detailed his interactions with Watkins, describing verbal altercations and animosity between them. He narrated the events leading up to the attack, mentioning encounters with Dodsworth and the decision to resort to violence to change his prison circumstances.
Gedel shared his internal struggle between his emotions and rational thoughts before committing the violent act, acknowledging his impulsive tendencies. He expressed conflicting feelings of justification and hesitation during the assault on Watkins, stating that the victim remained silent during the attack.
The trial is ongoing as Gedel continues to provide his account of the events, asserting both his responsibility for the actions taken and criticizing the prison authorities for their alleged awareness of his intentions.