A court was informed that a prisoner accused of killing Ian Watkins, the lead singer of Lostprophets, displayed a smug and smirked demeanor after the alleged incident. Watkins was fatally stabbed in his cell at HMP Wakefield on October 11 last year, where he was serving a lengthy sentence for child sexual offenses.
The accused, Rico Gedel, aged 25, reportedly expressed dissatisfaction about being relocated to a different wing the day prior to the attack on Watkins. Witnesses stated that Gedel had made threats indicating his intention to take action to be moved to segregation. It was recounted that Gedel entered Watkins’ cell and used a homemade knife to stab him multiple times in the head and neck.
During the trial at Leeds Crown Court, prison officers testified that Gedel appeared smug and was smirking following the incident. Gedel and his co-accused, Samuel Dodsworth, aged 44, have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and possessing a makeshift weapon in prison.
Statements from prison officers indicated that Gedel had shown reluctance to change wings and had made threats in the past about taking action. Witnesses described seeing Gedel being escorted by officers with a smug expression after the incident.
Further testimonies from officers involved in searching Gedel revealed his nonchalant attitude and apparent lack of remorse. Gedel was reported to have made comments suggesting his satisfaction with the situation and seemed unperturbed by the events that transpired.
The trial of Gedel and Dodsworth, who both deny the charges against them, is ongoing. Ian Watkins was sentenced to 29 years in prison in 2013 after admitting to various sexual offenses.
