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The murder trial of two men who were charged with killing disgraced former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins while he was incarcerated last year has come to an end, as per theprp. While serving a 29-year sentence for offences involving child sex, Watkins was fatally murdered on October 11, 2025. In the days following Watkins’ passing, 43-year-old Samuel Dodsworth and 25-year-old Rashid Gedel were detained and accused with his murder. According to CCTV evidence and witness accounts, the prosecution said that Gedel broke into Watkins’ cell and stabbed him three times in the head and neck during the first stages of the murder trial earlier this month.
The murder weapon was later given to Dodsworth, according to the prosecution, and he disposed of it in a nearby bin before investigators discovered it. After being brought past the cell where Watkins was receiving medical attention following the stabbing, Gedel was allegedly heard saying, “Have a good night’s sleep, Watkins lad.” At the time of his claimed attack on Watkins, Gedel was already serving a life term for murder. Gedel, who was moved to the cell next to Watkins the night before the murder, is reported to have declared during the trial that he decided to target Watkins because of their close proximity and his distaste for child sex offenders. In the meantime, Dodsworth is incarcerated for raping a lady.
Dodsworth has declared his innocence in the incident, saying that when he was given the shank that killed Watkins, he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. But according to the prosecution, Dodsworth was aware of the attack beforehand. The trial’s preliminary findings also claimed that Watkins had received threatening notes the day before he was killed. According to reports, one accused him of forcing another prisoner to leave the wing where he was housed, while the other demanded money under threat of violence. Today, May 22, the BBC reported that the jury in the murder trial has been released, and a new trial is scheduled for February 8, 2027.
In a Leeds Crown Court today, Justice Hilliard informed the assembled jury of the verdict. According to several reports on the subject, the decision to postpone the current trial and repeat the case the following year was made for “legal reasons” that have not been disclosed.
Very reluctantly, I’m going to discharge you and the case will have to be re-tried. That’s disappointing for you and for everyone.
