Inmate who ‘murdered Ian Watkins’ claimed Lostprophets singer was ‘treated like royalty’ in prison and was disgusted at having to share a wing with sex offenders, court told

A prisoner who slit the neck of pedophile rock star Ian Watkins said he was jealous of ‘former prisoners’ because they were ‘treated like royalty’, a hearing was heard on Thursday.

The jury heard how Rico Gedel, 25, killed Watkins, 48, in a 20-second cell assault before telling him “sleep well” as he lay dying.

The depraved former Lostprophets frontman was serving 35 years for a string of horrific child sex offenses when he was ambushed at HMP Wakefield, one of Britain’s toughest high security prisons.

The suspect is later said to have boasted: ‘If I’m going to get a life sentence for murder I’ll make sure it’s worth it.’

Gedel is also alleged to have told a prison officer: ‘If I killed him, you might be talking to someone famous.’

After his arrest, he told police that ‘God caused’ Watkins’ injuries, adding that he was too. He was jealous of the ‘once convicts’ because they were ‘treated like royalty’.

Leeds Crown Court heard ‘notorious’ Watkins, who was jailed in 2013 for child sexual activity and attempted rape of a baby, became a target of inmates who believed prison was ‘too good’ for him.

He suffered three deep slash wounds to his head and neck shortly after officers unlocked the cell doors in his wing on the morning of October 11, 2025.

A 10.5cm cut severed the voice box and carotid artery, causing catastrophic blood loss.

Rico Gedel, 25, went on trial at Wakefield prison in October 2025, accused of murdering Ian Watkins.

Gedel and inmate Samuel Dodsworth, 44, deny killing Watkins and possessing an offensive weapon in prison.

Prosecutor Tom Storey (KC), who opened the case, told jurors that Watkins was a target of those who believed ‘incarceration was somehow too good’ for child sex offenders.

‘Some crimes are so heinous they defy belief; These include more extreme examples of sexual crimes against children.

‘Perhaps there are those who believe that the sentences our courts impose on those who commit such crimes do not go far enough.

‘But there has been no death penalty in this country since 1965, and when we introduced it it was reserved for crimes of murder and treason.’

He added: ‘However, due to the special stigma attached to child sex offenders, even if they are sentenced to decades in prison for their crimes, they continue to be targets for those who hold the view that their sentences are not harsh enough and that a prison sentence is somehow too good for them.

‘And from time to time some people decide to take the law into their own hands and impose their own form of punishment on such criminals.’

Jurors were told of Watkins’ final hours at the category A prison in West Yorkshire, nicknamed ‘Monster Manor’ because of the dangerous and high-profile criminals it housed.

The court heard Watkins was attacked a day after he received two notes accusing him of removing another prisoner from the cell, demanding money and threatening violence.

Samuel Dodsworth, 44, allegedly acted as a ‘lookout’ and threw the murder weapon into a bin

That same evening, Gedel was moved from a different wing and placed in the cell right next to Watkins “by sheer coincidence.”

The next morning, officers began unlocking cells shortly after 9 a.m. while Watkins remained in his cell.

Jurors heard Gedel was a ‘simple prisoner’, meaning he was only allowed out of his cell for 30 minutes on Saturday mornings.

Mr Storey said he knew he only had a short time ‘to do what he had planned to do that morning’.

CCTV footage shows Gedel entering Watkins’ cell at 9.19am and leaving 20 seconds later.

Mr Storey said: ‘CCTV footage shows Ian Watkins briefly leaving his cell when two prison maintenance workers walked towards him across the landing.

‘And blood is clearly visible on the neck of the T-shirt he is wearing in the footage.

‘Workers noticed Watkins leaving his cell.

‘They saw that he was holding his hand to his neck and was obviously bleeding from a wound.

‘Workers immediately signaled for staff assistance and three prison officers, who were outside an office further down the landing, rushed towards Watkins’ cell.’

When the prison officer who gave Watkins first aid asked who was responsible for the attack, he replied: ‘That little black man.’

Shortly thereafter, Watkins suffered a heart attack and lost consciousness.

Gedel, meanwhile, was detained by guards and taken back to his cell, past Watkins’ open cell door, while emergency treatment continued.

As he passed Gedel he is alleged to have said: ‘Good night, Watkins lad.’

He was said to have found the situation ‘amusing’, the court heard.

Outlining the case, Mr Storey told jurors: ‘Although the prosecution cannot say exactly what happened during the 20 seconds Gedel was in Watkins’ cell, given what happened, it is clear that within that short period of time Gedel attacked Watkins with a homemade bladed weapon.

‘In the process he sustained three wounds to his head and neck, one of which was particularly severe.’

It is alleged that Dodsworth acted as a ‘lookout’ for Gedel and disposed of the murder weapon (a Stanley knife-type knife secured in blue plastic, with a lot of Sellotape wrapped around it) into a bin.

Police launched a murder investigation after Watkins was pronounced dead at the prison entrance, less than an hour after he was attacked.

Gedel was kept under constant surveillance through a hatch in his cell door, and prison officers described him as “lively” and “happy to chat”.

He is said to have told a guard: ‘If I’m going to get a life sentence for murder I’ll make sure it’s worth it.’

Mr Storey also said he told the same officer: ‘If I killed him you might be talking to someone famous.’

Both suspects were arrested and taken to separate police stations.

In the interview, Gedel initially responded “no comment” and then noted how he envied the “one-time inmates” because they were treated “like royalty.”

When asked who caused Watkins’ injury, Gedel replied: ‘God.’

He denied any knowledge of the threatening notes Watkins received.

Jurors heard Gedel was expected to admit to killing Watkins but would claim he lost self-control.

Dodsworth denies knowing about the attack or helping to plan or carry it out.

He said he ‘panicked’ after taking the gun and tried to give it back.

The court heard Watkins was slashed three times, with a 10.5cm long gash on the left side of his neck, which proved fatal.

Mr Storey said: ‘This injury to the carotid artery could have caused significant external bleeding and was the most likely cause of Ian Watkins’ death.’

The court was told Gedel’s trainers and tracksuit bottoms were stained with blood and the samples matched Watkins’ DNA profile.

Mr Storey concluded his opening statement by telling the jury: ‘Whatever you think of those who commit the most serious crimes, this provides no legal justification for taking another’s life as in this case.

“Ultimately, the prosecution says it is clear on the evidence that Rico Gedel carried out the attack on Ian Watkins, inflicting fatal wounds using a homemade knife.

‘And it is equally clear that Samuel Dodsworth encouraged and assisted him in this enterprise.’

Watkins, from Pontypridd, south Wales, was sentenced to consecutive terms of 14 years and 15 years in prison in 2013 for having sexual intercourse with a child and attempting to rape an 11-month-old baby.

The disgraced singer was also convicted of 11 other offenses at Cardiff Crown Court, which were in addition to his 29-year sentence.

The trial continues.