Ian Watkins accused 'felt guilt only for victims'

A prisoner accused of murdering Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has told a court the only guilt he felt was towards the paedophile's victims.

Watkins was stabbed in his cell at high-security HMP Wakefield on 11 October, where he was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences.

Giving evidence earlier, Rico Gedel, 25, told Leeds Crown Court he wanted to be moved from sharing a wing with sex offenders in prison so decided to attack another inmate, but did not intend to kill.

Gedel and his co-accused Samuel Dodsworth have both denied murder and possession of a makeshift knife in prison.

Richard Wright KC, defending Dodsworth, asked Gedel if he was "pleased" that Watkins was dead.

The defendant replied: "Somewhat."

Wright asked: "You're certainly not losing sleep over it?"

Gedel said: "No, not really.

"What I wanted to say is, the only guilt I would feel about this is how his victims felt.

"I know from my own experiences, with friends and family being sexually assaulted, I don't know if they would have wanted that [Watkins's death].

"But that's my only guilt."

Wright clarified if Gedel meant that Watkins's victims might have wanted him to have a hard time in prison and would see his "death is an easy option".

Gedel replied: "I felt a bit guilty for them because they didn't get that opportunity."

Jurors heard how Gedel was convicted of murder in his early 20s, which he continued to deny, and was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 27 years.

Wright pointed out that Gedel had changed his defence statement three times, including one he completed only the day before, and questioned why he was now claiming Dodsworth – a convicted rapist – handed him the knife.

He suggested Gedel was now saying that "because it's convenient and, frankly, it's good fun".

Gedel replied: "I did get the knife from Dodsworth."

Later, the defendant told Tom Storey KC, prosecuting: "I don't like fighting, in every fight there is a possibility I could lose and I don't want to end up injured.

"There are serial killers in Wakefield."

Storey played body-worn camera footage as guards held Gedel in a cell while other officers tried to save Watkins' life, four minutes after the attack.

Gedel was shown smiling and saying: "Hopefully he goes to sleep."

Gedel told the court: "There was part of me that wanted him to die, there was another part of me that didn't want him to die.

"That was a bad concoction."

Later, Dodsworth gave evidence and insisted he had no part in planning an attack on Watkins.

He told jurors he worked as a carer for another inmate, and also cleaned other prisoners' cells for vapes.

He denied having a grudge against Watkins or wanting to harm him, and told jurors he himself was a sex offender.

After watching CCTV of Gedel handing him the knife after he had stabbed Watkins, Dodsworth told jurors: "I could see it was silver and sharp, I put it straight in my pocket, so no-one could see."

Dodsworth said he told Gedel he did not want the knife but claimed his co-accused told him "get rid of it".

He wrapped it in tissue, hoping to remove his own DNA from touching it, then dropped it in a bin.

Referring to his prison status as a sex offender, Dodsworth said: "I don't even like myself because of what I have done, but it don't make me a killer."

He denied plotting to murder Watkins, explaining: "I'm not going to kill another sex offender."

Dodsworth added: "I have said from day one, it's nowt to do with me, all I did was get rid of the evidence."

The trial continues.

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