Trial of Ian Watkins' Murderers Collapses, Jury Discharged
Ian Watkins' murder trial collapses and jury discharged after paedo singer's jail death

Image: Dailystar Co Uk
The jury in the murder trial of two inmates accused of killing Ian Watkins, the disgraced former frontman of Lostprophets, has been discharged due to legal complications. Watkins was fatally stabbed in his prison cell at HMP Wakefield by Rico Gedel, who claimed he targeted Watkins due to his proximity and expressed disdain for sex offenders.
- 01Ian Watkins was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences when he was murdered.
- 02Rico Gedel, 25, confessed to having threatened to harm sex offenders and chose Watkins due to being placed next to him.
- 03Samuel Dodsworth, 44, claimed he was merely a bystander and discarded the knife out of panic.
- 04The judge, Mr Justice Hilliard, expressed disappointment in having to discharge the jury, stating the case will need to be retried.
- 05Watkins had previously confessed to multiple sex offences, including attempted rape of a fan's baby.
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The trial of two inmates accused of murdering Ian Watkins, the former frontman of Lostprophets, has collapsed after the jury was discharged due to legal reasons. Watkins, who was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences, was fatally stabbed by Rico Gedel, 25, in his cell at HMP Wakefield. The court heard that after the attack, Gedel handed the makeshift knife to Samuel Dodsworth, 44, who disposed of it in a bin. Both defendants denied the charges of murder and possession of a weapon in prison. During the trial, Gedel expressed his hatred for sex offenders and admitted he had threatened to harm them if not transferred. He claimed he selected Watkins due to their proximity, as he had been moved next to him the night before. The judge, Mr Justice Hilliard, expressed disappointment at the need to discharge the jury, indicating that the case would have to be retried. Prosecutors argued that Dodsworth was complicit in the murder, as he allegedly knew about the attack and assisted Gedel. Dodsworth, however, maintained that he was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time. Watkins had previously confessed to numerous sex offences, including the attempted rape of a fan's baby.
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The collapse of this trial raises questions about the management of high-risk inmates and the safety of prisoners in high-security facilities.
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