Man accused of killing Ian Watkins only feels guilt' for paedophile singer's victims

"The defendant replied: Somewhat. Mr 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. The attack took place last October (West Yorkshire Police) 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."

"Mr 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 he was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 27 years."

"Mr Wright pointed out Gedel has 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. Mr Wright said Gedel was now saying that because it's convenient and, frankly, it's good fun. Gedel replied: I did get the knife from Dodsworth."

"Convicted murderer Rico Gedel, 25, attacked Watkins in his cell at high-security HMP Wakefield on 11 October, 2025, slashing him three times, Leeds Crown Court has heard. He denies murder, claiming he wanted to be moved from sharing a wing with sex offenders in prison so decided to attack another inmate, but that he did not intend to kill."

Rico Gedel, 25, attacked disgraced Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins in a high-security prison cell, stabbing him three times and causing his death. Gedel denies murder, saying he wanted to be moved away from sharing a wing with sex offenders and chose to attack another inmate without intending to kill. He claims co-accused Samuel Dodsworth, a convicted rapist, provided a makeshift knife before the attack. During questioning, Gedel said he was not losing sleep over Watkins’s death and felt guilt only in relation to Watkins’s victims. The court heard Gedel has previously been convicted of murder, continues to deny it, and has changed his defence statement multiple times, including shortly before the hearing.

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