Lostprophets Singer Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in Prison Cell by Fellow Inmate

A prisoner accused of murdering pedophile singer Ian Watkins told jail staff: "If I've killed him, you could be talking to someone famous," prosecutors told jurors at Leeds Crown Court.

Lostprophets frontman Watkins was stabbed to death in his cell at HMP Wakefield on October 11. He was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offenses.

Prosecutors said serving prisoner Rashid Gedel entered Watkins' cell less than 20 minutes after it was unlocked for the morning. He stabbed Watkins three times in the head and neck with a homemade knife, then passed it to Samuel Dodsworth to dispose of.

The court heard the attack lasted 20 seconds. Gedel appeared perky when prison officers detained him afterward.

Gedel later told police he was jealous of "nonce prisoners" because they got treated like royalty. He called it disgusting to share a wing with sex offenders at HMP Wakefield, where they were not segregated.

At its last inspection in 2025, about two-thirds of inmates at HMP Wakefield were convicted of sexual offenses.

Tom Storey KC said Watkins, a particularly notorious and high-profile prisoner, received two notes the day before his death. The notes accused him of getting another prisoner kicked off the wing, demanded money and threatened violence.

Gedel had been moved to the same wing as Watkins and Dodsworth the day before the attack. He was placed in the cell next to Watkins.

On the morning of Watkins' death, officers began unlocking cells on B wing after 9 a.m. BST. Gedel left his cell, but Watkins stayed inside.

Prison CCTV showed the defendants talking to each other and another man before they separated.

Storey said footage captured Gedel on the landing outside Watkins' cell, likely waiting for officers to move out of sight.

CCTV showed Gedel entering Watkins' cell just before 9:20 a.m. and leaving 20 seconds later. He walked to Dodsworth and passed him something.

Dodsworth glanced at the item and put it in his jogging bottoms pocket, jurors heard.

Footage showed Watkins emerging from his cell with blood on his T-shirt neck.

Paramedics could not resuscitate him. He was declared dead just before 10:15 a.m.

Staff observing Gedel through his cell door hatch noted his perky demeanor. He told one officer, "If I've killed him, you could be talking to someone famous."

Before lockup, Dodsworth went into an alcove with bins. Officers later found a bloodied homemade knife there.

Dodsworth told police he took no part in the incident and tried to return the knife to Gedel.