{"id":1653,"date":"2026-05-11T15:01:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T15:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/inmate-who-slashed-ian-watkins-in-neck-was-smirking-after-prison-murder\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T15:01:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T15:01:47","slug":"inmate-who-slashed-ian-watkins-in-neck-was-smirking-after-prison-murder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/inmate-who-slashed-ian-watkins-in-neck-was-smirking-after-prison-murder\/","title":{"rendered":"Inmate who &#8216;slashed Ian Watkins in neck&#8217; was &#8216;smirking&#8217; after prison &#8216;murder&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_5699b0\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Disgraced Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was serving a 29-year prison sentence for child sexual offences when he was stabbed to death by an inmate, a court heard<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\"><\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37130750\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"An individual, dressed in a dark shirt, is featured in a close-up photograph. This person exhibits a neatly groomed beard and mustache, along with a prominent furrow in the brow, standing against a plain background.\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2_Ian-Watkins-death.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Ian Watkins was killed in prison last October\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Ian Watkins was killed in prison last October<cite aria-label=\"Image: South Wales Police\/PA Wire\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: South Wales Police\/PA Wire)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A prisoner accused of murdering paedophile Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins was &#8220;smug&#8221; and &#8220;smirking&#8221; after the alleged attack, a court heard.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Watkins was stabbed to death on October 11 last year in his cell at high-security HMP Wakefield, where he was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Alleged murderer Rico Gedel, 25, was said to be &#8220;unhappy&#8221; about having to move wings the day before the fatal attack and had threatened to &#8220;do something to get moved to segregation&#8221;. The court previously heard Gedel went into Watkins\u2019 cell and stabbed him three times in the head and neck with a home-made knife.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Leeds Crown Court today heard statements from prison officers who described Gedel as &#8220;smug&#8221; and &#8220;smirking&#8221; after the incident.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He and fellow inmate Samuel Dodsworth, 44, deny murder and possession of a makeshift knife in prison.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Adam Laycock said he had been involved in moving Gedel from A wing to B wing the day before Watkins was killed.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37129445\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37129445\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A blood-covered Ian Watkins stumbles from prison cell after being stabbed\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4_Ian-Watkins.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Footage seen by jurors showed Watkins stumble from his prison cell\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Footage seen by jurors showed Watkins stumble from his prison cell<cite aria-label=\"Image: West Yorkshire Police\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: West Yorkshire Police)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Laycock&#8217;s statement, read to jurors by prosecutor Chris Rose, said: &#8220;(Gedel) didn&#8217;t want to move wings. He had mentioned a number of times that if he was moved he would do something.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Often this is the kind of threat prisoners make and often they do nothing to carry it out. I knew Gedel would rather go to segregation than be moved to somewhere he didn&#8217;t want to be.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Laycock said he rushed to B wing on the day of Watkins\u2019 death after hearing a &#8220;code red&#8221; called, and saw Gedel being escorted by officers. &#8220;I noticed Gedel was looking somewhat smug, and seemed to have a smirk on his face,&#8221; his statement read.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Another prison officer from A wing, Justin Barrett, said he saw Gedel being restrained after the &#8220;code red&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He said: &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t shocked to see it was him. He had not been happy about the move from A to B wing. I heard him say he would do something to get moved to segregation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Jurors also heard statements from several officers who searched Gedel when he was moved to his cell after the incident.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Patrick Wilson, who was part of the jail&#8217;s dedicated search team (DST), said Gedel was laughing as he entered the cell, and responded &#8220;I used my hands,&#8221; when asked where the weapon was.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Wilson said: &#8220;He kept laughing, saying things like: &#8216;You guys are DST, this should be the highlight of the day&#8217;.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Jurors were shown bodyworn camera footage of Gedel saying &#8220;I hope he sleeps&#8221; to officers who were searching his cell.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Anthony Whiteside said Gedel was &#8220;calm and cold&#8221; throughout the search and &#8220;did not seem bothered about what had occurred&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">His statement read: &#8220;(Gedel) said something like: &#8216;You&#8217;ll never find it, (when asked about the weapon). He said things like: &#8216;I hope he sleeps&#8217; and &#8216;I hope he goes to sleep&#8217;. It was clear he had hurt him.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gedel, who was initially referred to by police as Rashid Gedel, and Samuel Dodsworth, 44, both deny murder and possession of a makeshift knife in prison.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Watkins was jailed for 29 years in December 2013, with a further six years on licence, after admitting a string of sex offences.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The trial continues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/ian-watkins-murder-trial-prison-37140986\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Disgraced Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was serving a 29-year prison sentence for child sexual offences<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1654,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778511707_2_Ian-Watkins-death.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1653","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1653"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1653\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1653"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1653"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1653"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}