The jury in the trial of two prisoners accused of murdering disgraced former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has been discharged for legal reasons, with a retrial ordered. Mr Justice Hilliard told jurors at Leeds Crown Court on Friday: 'Very reluctantly, I’m going to discharge you and the case will have to be retried.'
The defendants, Rico Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 44, both deny murdering Watkins and possessing a makeshift knife in prison. Watkins was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences at HMP Wakefield when he was stabbed. Prosecutors allege Gedel used a homemade weapon to attack Watkins in his cell, then handed the knife to Dodsworth, who disposed of it in a bin.
The prosecution argues both men are jointly responsible for Watkins's death, claiming Dodsworth, serving a sentence for rape, was aware of the planned attack and assisted by concealing the weapon. Dodsworth denies involvement, saying he panicked and threw the knife away after being handed it unexpectedly. Gedel told the court he disliked being housed with sex offenders and chose Watkins due to 'proximity', as they were neighbouring cells. He admitted 'part of him' wanted to kill Watkins, adding: 'Sometimes what your heart wants is not what your brain wants.'
The attack occurred shortly after prison officers began unlocking cells. The defence maintains Dodsworth was in the wrong place at the wrong time. With the jury discharged, the case will be listed for retrial, leaving the allegations unresolved.
