Inmate Accused of Murdering Ian Watkins Boasted of Fame After Attack
Rico Gedel, a 25-year-old inmate, is on trial for the murder of disgraced British rock star Ian Watkins at HMP Wakefield. Prosecutors allege that Gedel fatally stabbed Watkins in his cell on October 11, 2025, using a homemade knife during a brief 20-second attack. Following the incident, Gedel reportedly boasted to prison guards about becoming famous, stating, "If I’ve killed him, you could be talking to someone famous." He also allegedly remarked that if he faced life imprisonment, he would ensure it was "worth it." Samuel Dodsworth, 44, is accused of acting as a lookout and disposing of the weapon; both defendants deny the charges. Watkins, the former frontman of Lostprophets, was serving a 29-year sentence for severe child sex crimes when he was attacked. Surveillance footage and witness testimony indicate Gedel waited for staff to move out of sight before entering Watkins' cell. The prosecution emphasizes that despite Watkins' notorious crimes, there is no legal justification for his murder. Gedel allegedly claimed jealousy over the special treatment received by sex offenders in prison.
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Inmate Accused of Murdering Ian Watkins Boasted of Fame After Attack
Rico Gedel, a 25-year-old inmate, is on trial for the murder of disgraced British rock star Ian Watkins at HMP Wakefield. Prosecutors allege that Gedel fatally stabbed Watkins in his cell on October 11, 2025, using a homemade knife during a brief 20-second attack. Following the incident, Gedel reportedly boasted to prison guards about becoming famous, stating, "If I’ve killed him, you could be talking to someone famous." He also allegedly remarked that if he faced life imprisonment, he would ensure it was "worth it." Samuel Dodsworth, 44, is accused of acting as a lookout and disposing of the weapon; both defendants deny the charges. Watkins, the former frontman of Lostprophets, was serving a 29-year sentence for severe child sex crimes when he was attacked. Surveillance footage and witness testimony indicate Gedel waited for staff to move out of sight before entering Watkins' cell. The prosecution emphasizes that despite Watkins' notorious crimes, there is no legal justification for his murder. Gedel allegedly claimed jealousy over the special treatment received by sex offenders in prison.
New York Post