A man accused of murdering Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins told prison guards they “could be talking to someone famous”, a court has heard.
The convicted child sex offender and former singer was killed in Wakefield Prison aged 48 on October 11. Watkins was supposed to serve a 29-year sentence with a further six years on licence.
He pleaded guilty to 13 sex offences in 2013, including the attempted rape of a baby, conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal.
Two men were arrested following Watkins’ death, and Rashid Gedel, 25, who was referred to as Rico Gedel in court, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, were charged with his killing two days after. Dodsworth pleaded not guilty to murder in November.
Now, a court has heard that Gedel bragged about becoming “famous” after stabbing Watkins in the head and neck with a homemade knife.
After attacking Watkins, Gedel, then handed the weapon to Dodsworth, who disposed of it, the prosecutor told the jury at the opening of the prisoners’ murder trial.
Though the stabbing was carried out by one man, prosecutors say the attack was “a joint offence” between the two defendants. Gedel and Dodsworth deny murder and possession of a makeshift knife in prison.
The court heard that the attack was carried out moments after Watkins’ cell door had been opened that morning, and lasted about 20 seconds.
Watkins was a “particularly notorious and high-profile” prisoner, who had received threats from other prisoners, including on the day before he was killed, Tom Storey KC told the court.
In the moments before his death, when officers who tried to save his life asked who had attacked him, Watkins “said something to the effect of ‘that little black fella’”, Storey said.
Prison officers described Gedel as “perky” when they detained him after the attack, and have alleged that he said “have a good night’s sleep Watkins lad” when he was taken past the cell as Watkins was receiving medical treatment, the court heard.
When asked after the attack who he thought was responsible, Gedel reportedly said: “God.”
Gedel told police he was jealous of “nonce prisoners” because they “got treated like royalty”, and he thought it was disgusting to share a wing with sex offenders, the court heard.
The court heard Gedel had been moved into the same wing as Watkins and Dodsworth the day before the attack, and “coincidentally” put in the cell next to Watkins.
It comes after a coroner recently ruled that Watkins died from a stab wound to the neck.
