Ian Watkins murder-accused ‘smug’ and smirking’ after fatal stabbing, trial told

Katie Dickinson, Press Association

A prisoner accused of murdering paedophile Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins was “unhappy” about having to move wings the day before the fatal attack and had threatened to “do something to get moved to segregation”, a court heard.

The disgraced singer was stabbed to death on October 11 last year in his cell at high-security HMP Wakefield, where he was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences.

Leeds Crown Court heard statements from prison officers who described alleged murderer Rico Gedel, 25, as “smug” and “smirking” after the incident.

Adam Laycock said he had been involved in moving Gedel from A wing to B wing the day before Watkins was killed.

Mr Laycock’s statement, read to jurors by prosecutor Chris Rose, said: “(Gedel) didn’t want to move wings. He had mentioned a number of times that if he was moved he would do something.

“Often this is the kind of threat prisoners make and often they do nothing to carry it out.

“I knew Gedel would rather go to segregation than be moved to somewhere he didn’t want to be.”

Mr Laycock said he rushed to B wing on the day of Watkins’ death after hearing a “code red” called, and saw Gedel being escorted by officers.

“I noticed Gedel was looking somewhat smug, and seemed to have a smirk on his face,” his statement read.

Another prison officer from A wing, Justin Barrett, said he saw Gedel being restrained after the “code red”.

He said: “I wasn’t shocked to see it was him. He had not been happy about the move from A to B wing.

“I heard him say he would do something to get moved to segregation.”

Jurors also heard statements from several officers who searched Gedel when he was moved to his cell after the incident.

Patrick Wilson, who was part of the jail’s dedicated search team (DST), said Gedel was laughing as he entered the cell, and responded “I used my hands,” when asked where the weapon was.

Mr Wilson said: “He kept laughing, saying things like: ‘You guys are DST, this should be the highlight of the day’.”

Jurors were shown bodyworn camera footage of Gedel saying “I hope he sleeps” to officers who were searching his cell.

Anthony Whiteside said Gedel was “calm and cold” throughout the search and “did not seem bothered about what had occurred”.

His statement read: “(Gedel) said something like: ‘You’ll never find it, (when asked about the weapon).

“He said things like: ‘I hope he sleeps’ and ‘I hope he goes to sleep’. It was clear he had hurt him.”

Gedel, who was initially referred to by police as Rashid Gedel, and Samuel Dodsworth, 44, both deny murder and possession of a makeshift knife in prison.

Watkins was jailed for 29 years in December 2013, with a further six years on licence, after admitting a string of sex offences – including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby.

The trial continues.