UK3 min(s) read
Published 10:36 08 May 2026 GMT
The man who was accused of killing Ian Watkins while he was serving his prison sentence made a horrifying comment before reportedly taking his life.
Watkins, the former lead singer of Lostprophets, was found with serious injuries at HM Prison Wakefield on October 11 2025, with two inmates being charged with his death.
The Brit, who was 48 at the time, was in the middle of a 29-year jail sentence when he was murdered at Britain's highest security prison on that fateful day.
Watkins had been handed the sentence after being found guilty of several child sex offences, including the attempted r*pe of a baby, offences that were made public in 2013.
In total, he admitted 13 offences, including three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme image involving a sex act on an animal.
The former frontman was attacked by prisoners on numerous occasions, as pedophiles were often targeted by other criminals.
However, Rashid (Rico) Gedel, 25, the man who has been accused of killing the artist, allegedly claimed in the past that "if I'm going to do life for murder, I'm going to make sure it's worth it."
Along with fellow prisoner Samuel Dodsworth, the pair have been accused of working together to murder the pedophile, but both have denied the charges of murder and possessing an offensive weapon in prison.
It is believed that Gedel slashed Watkins three times in the neck and head, which caused significant blood loss.
He would then pass away in hospital after entering cardiac arrest.
After being detained by prison guards, Gedel passed Watkins' cell and allegedly said, per The Guardian: "Have a good night's sleep, Watkins lad."
The suspect also told a guard that they "could be talking to someone famous", hinting that it was "God" who attacked Watkins, but he added that he was jealous as "nonce prisoners" were "treated like royalty".
Speaking during yesterday's (7 May) court case, prosecutor Tom Storey, KC said: "There are some criminal offences which are so heinous that they defy belief; these include the more extreme examples of child sex offences."
He claimed that the death penalty wasn't considered when it might have been appropriate, explaining: "There are those who perhaps believe that the punishments meted out by our courts upon people who commit such offences do not go far enough.
"But we have not had the death penalty in this country since 1965, and when we did, it was reserved for offences of murder and treason."
Speaking of the "particular stigma" around those who commit child offences, even when they are handed lengthy sentences, he pointed out: "They remain targets for those who take the view that their punishment is not severe enough, that imprisonment is somehow too good for them."
This then, according to Storey, is when some "take the law into their own hands," referencing Gedel.
He claimed that it was "clear" from available evidence that Gedel had used a home-made bladed weapon to kill Watkins, and the presence of Watkins' DNA on his tracksuit and trainers.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues or want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.
