Rico Gedel, 25, stood accused of brutally stabbing paedophile and Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins to death last October inside his high-security cell at HMP Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The chilling details of the attack emerged during the ongoing trial at Leeds Crown Court, where Gedel’s disturbing behavior immediately following the murder shocked onlookers and officials alike.
Smirking and Defiant After the Fatal Assault
Bodycam footage presented in court captured Gedel’s unsettling demeanor as he entered his own cell’s search scene, grinning and laughing. When officers questioned him about the weapon used, Gedel coldly replied, “I used my hands,” revealing a brazen attitude that prosecutors highlighted as evidence of his calculated actions.
Another clip showed Gedel mockingly wishing Watkins “a good night’s sleep,” underscoring his apparent lack of remorse.
Motivation Behind the Attack: Prison Wing Transfer Tensions
Testimonies revealed that Gedel had grown increasingly agitated after being forced to move from A wing to B wing the day before the fatal incident on October 11. Prison officer Adam Laycock recounted how Gedel repeatedly threatened to “do something” to secure a transfer to segregation, preferring isolation over relocation.
Laycock’s statement detailed Gedel’s smug expression as officers escorted him following the “code red” alarm that signaled the attack. “He seemed to have a smirk on his face,” Laycock said, illustrating Gedel’s disturbing confidence.
Additional Witness Accounts
Officer Justin Barrett, stationed on A wing, confirmed Gedel’s dissatisfaction with the transfer and overheard his threats to provoke segregation. Meanwhile, a segregation wing officer at HMP Long Lartin, where Gedel was sent post-attack, described him as “proud of what had happened” and claiming to “feel like a celebrity.”
The Makeshift Weapon and Its Disposal
Jury members learned that the weapon used to kill Watkins was a crude but deadly contraption: a Stanley knife blade taped to a piece of plastic cutlery. This improvised knife was discarded in prison bins by another inmate, Samuel Dodsworth, 44, after Gedel handed it to him following the assault.
Both Gedel and Dodsworth firmly deny charges of murder and possession of a makeshift weapon within the prison.
Trial Developments Continue
The case remains under close scrutiny as Leeds Crown Court continues to examine the evidence surrounding the high-profile killing inside one of Britain’s toughest prisons.
