The ongoing murder trial of two men accused of killing disgraced ex-Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins in prison last year has collapsed. Watkins was stabbed to death on October 11th, 2025, while serving out a 29-year sentence for child sex-related crimes.
25-year-old Rashid Gedel and43-year-old Samuel Dodsworth were arrested and charged with Watkins‘ murder in the days after his death. Initial proceedings in the trial over the murder unfolded earlier this month, with the prosecution alleging that Gedel entered Watkins‘ cell and stabbed him three times in the head and neck, per CCTV footage and witness reports.
The prosecution alleged that Dodsworth was later handed the murder weapon and disposed of it in a nearby bin where authorities found it. Gedel was allegedly recorded saying “have a good night’s sleep Watkins lad” after being taken past the cell where Watkins was receiving medical treatment in the wake of the stabbing.
Gedel was already serving a life sentence for murder at the time of his alleged attack on Watkins. Gedel is said to have stated in the trial that he chose to target Watkins due to proximity and his dislike for child sex offenders, having been transferred to the cell next to him the night before the murder. Dodsworth meanwhile is serving a sentence for raping a woman.
Dodsworth has proclaimed his innocence in the incident, claiming that he was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time upon being handed the shank used in killing Watkins. Prosecutors however allege Dodsworth knew of the attack prior.
Initial findings presented in the trial also alleged that Watkins had received threatening notes the day prior to his murder. One is said to have accused him of getting another inmate kicked out of the wing he was incarcerated in, while the other demanded money on the threat of violence. The BBC reported today, May 22nd, that the jury in the murder trial has now been discharged, with plans for the case to once again be tried on February 08th, 2027.
The decision was announced by Justice Hilliard in a Leeds Crown Court today, with the jury in attendance being told:
“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.”
Various reporting on the matter has indicated that this decision to forego this current trial and retry the case next year is a result of undisclosed “legal reasons.”
