The jury in the trial of two prisoners accused of murdering disgraced former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has been discharged for legal reasons. Mr Justice Hilliard at Leeds Crown Court told jurors on Friday that a retrial would be necessary, describing the situation as 'disappointing'.
Defendants Rico Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 44, both denied murdering Watkins and possessing a makeshift knife at high-security HMP Wakefield, where Watkins was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences. The court heard that Gedel allegedly used a homemade weapon to stab Watkins in his cell, after which he handed the knife to Dodsworth, who disposed of it in a bin.
Prosecutors argued both men were jointly responsible for the death, claiming Dodsworth knew of the planned attack and assisted by concealing the weapon. Dodsworth, serving a sentence for rape, insisted he had no prior knowledge and panicked when handed the knife. Gedel admitted disliking being housed with sex offenders and said he chose Watkins due to 'proximity' after being placed in the neighbouring cell the night before.
Gedel told the jury that 'part of him' had wanted to kill Watkins, adding, 'Sometimes what your heart wants is not what your brain wants.' He denied formal guilt of murder but acknowledged feeling jealous of 'nonce prisoners' who were 'treated like royalty'. The defence maintained Dodsworth was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Watkins was jailed in December 2013 for 29 years, with an additional six years on licence, for a string of sexual offences including the attempted rape of a fan's baby. With the jury discharged, the case will be listed for a retrial, leaving the allegations unresolved.
