Metal Anarchy

Back in October 2025, convicted pedophile Ian Watkins (ex-Lostprophets) died after being stabbed in the neck at HMP Wakefield prison. The disgraced frontman was at the facility serving a 29-year prison sentence with an additional six years on licence for 13 counts of child sex offences. Now, more details on the murder have surfaced amid an ongoing trial.

According to BBC, 25-year-old inmate Rashid Gedel got into Watkins’ cell shortly after it was unlocked for the morning. He then proceeded to stab him three times in the head and neck. He conducted the murder with a home-made knife, which he then gave to 44-year-old inmate Samuel Dodsworth to dispose of. However, both men have denied this assessment.

The attack was over in 20 seconds and Gedel was reportedly “perky” when officers detained him. He also told the police that he harbored jealousy for “nonce prisoners” who “got treated like royalty.” He also expressed disgust for having to share a wing with sex offenders.

Prosecutors labeled the attack as “a joint offence” between the defendants, claiming Dodsworth knew about it beforehand. Tom Storey KC also revealed that Watkins received two notes the day before he was killed. Those letters accused him of getting another prisoner booted from the wing. They also included demands for money and threats of violence.

Gedel was placed in Watkins and Dodsworth’s wing the day before the murder. “Coincidentally” he also received the cell next to Watkins. The next day, when the doors opened, Gedel left his cell, but Watkins stayed inside. The two defendants were then seen talking to each other and another individual before leaving.

Gedel was later seen on the landing outside of Watkins’ cell and was “in all likelihood waiting for a moment when the prison officers on the landing were out of sight”. When he got his chance, he went into Watkins’ cell and emerged 20 seconds later to pass Dodsworth the knife, which he placed in his pocket.

Watkins came out of the cell with blood on the neck of his shirt. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him after the incident, but they were unsuccessful and he was declared dead on the scene.

Storey went on to say that the staff described Gedel’s demeanour as “perky.” He also allegedly told an officer the following: “If I’ve killed him, you could be talking to someone famous.”

Before the prisoners were locked down, Dodsworth was also seen in an alcove with some bins. Upon investigation, officers then found the bloody knife. Despite this, Dodsworth claimed he was not involved and tried to give the knife back to Gedel. He went on to say he only put the knife in a bin after panicking.

As of now, the trial is set to continue.