This is the moment paedophile rock star Ian Watkins stumbles from his jail cell after his neck was slashed three times in a ’20-second prison knife attack’.
The depraved former Lostprophets singer, 48, was allegedly murdered by fellow inmates Rico Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 44, inside maximum-security HMP Wakefield in October 2025.
Gedel is alleged to have later told a prison officer: ‘If I’ve killed him, you could be talking to someone famous’.
He also is said to have remarked: ‘If I’m going to do life for murder, I’m going to make sure it’s worth it’.
The footage shows Gedel walking from left to right, briefly looking up at the camera, having allegedly slashed Watkins’ neck seconds earlier.
He then appears to speak with Dodsworth, who the prosecution say served as look-out and then disposed of the murder weapon in a bin.
The fatally injured former singer then briefly emerges from his cell on the prison’s B Wing with blood seeping through his grey T-shirt.
Describing the CCTV to jurors at Leeds Crown Court, Tom Storey, KC, said: ‘The footage shows Ian Watkins emerging briefly from his cell at the same time as two workmen, who were carrying out maintenance in the prison were walking towards him along the landing.
Disgraced former rock star Ian Watkins (far left) emerges bleeding from his cell after having his neck fatally slashed, in CCTV from Wakefield prison shown to the trial of his alleged killers, Rico Gedel, 25, (visible top right) and Samuel Dodsworth, 44
Paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was murdered in a 20-second prison cell knife attack by a fellow inmate, a court heard today
Rico Gedel, 25, has gone on trial accused of murdering Ian Watkins at Wakefield prison in October 2025
‘And the footage clearly shows blood visible on the neck of the T-shirt he was wearing.
‘The workmen noticed Watkins emerging from his cell.
‘They saw that he was holding his hand to his neck, and was obviously bleeding from a wound.
‘The workmen immediately signalled for staff assistance, and three prison officers who had been outside an office further along the landing ran towards Watkins’ cell.’
At the end of the 34-second clip, Gedel walks downstairs before Dodsworth can be seen carrying a mug in his left hand.
Watkins, serving 35 years for a string of horrific child sex offences, suffered three deep slash wounds to his head and neck shortly after officers unlocked cell doors on his wing on the morning of October 11.
One 10.5cm cut sliced through his voicebox and jugular vein, causing catastrophic blood loss.
Gedel and Dodsworth are on trial for Watkins’ murder.
Rico Gedel, 25, (left) walking away from Watkins’ cell having allegedly slashed his neck seconds earlier
Gedel can be seen walking towards co-accused Samuel Dodsworth, 44, (at top of stairs, holding mug) who allegedly served as look-out and then disposed of the murder weapon
Samuel Dodsworth, 44, is alleged to have acted as a ‘look-out’ and disposed of the murder weapon in a bin
Mr Storey told the jury that Watkins’ horrific child sex crimes made him a constant target for cons who believed prison was ‘too good’ for him.
The court was told how Watkins was attacked a day after receiving two notes accusing him of getting another prisoner removed from the wing, demanding money and threatening violence.
That same evening, Gedel was ‘entirely coincidentally’ placed in a cell directly next door to Watkins, having been moved to the prison’s B wing.
The following morning, officers began unlocking cells shortly after 9am with Watkins remaining inside his cell.
Gedel, jurors heard, was a ‘basic prisoner’, meaning he was allowed out of his cell for only 30 minutes on Saturday mornings.
Mr Storey said he would have known he had only a short window of opportunity ‘to do what he had clearly planned to do that morning’.
When a prison officer asked Watkins who was responsible for the attack, he replied: ‘That little black fella.’
Gedel was quickly detained by guards and taken back to his cell – passing Watkins’ open cell door as emergency treatment was underway.
As he walked past, Gedel allegedly remarked: ‘Have a good night’s sleep, Watkins lad.’
He was said to have found ‘the situation amusing’, Leeds Crown Court was told.
Dodsworth is alleged to have acted as a ‘look-out’ for Gedel and disposed of the murder weapon in a bin.
Watkins was declared dead on a prison landing less than an hour after he was attacked.
Gedel was placed under constant observation through the hatch in his cell door and was described as ‘perky’.
Gedel initially refused to answer questions upon arrest but later allegedly said he was jealous of ‘nonce prisoners’ because they were treated ‘like royalty’.
When asked who had caused Watkins’ injuries, Gedel is said to have replied: ‘God’ who does ‘everything’.
Jurors heard how Gedel is expected to admit killing Watkins but will argue he lost his self-control.
Dodsworth denies knowing about the attack in advance and denies helping to plan or carry it out.
Watkins, from Pontypridd, South Wales, was handed consecutive 14-year and 15-year jail terms in 2013 for engaging in sexual activity with a child and the attempted rape of an 11-month-old baby.
The disgraced singer was also convicted of 11 other offences at Cardiff Crown Court, with those sentences running alongside his 29-year term.
The trial continues.
