The trial of two inmates accused of the murder of Ian Watkins, the former lead singer of Lostprophets, has seen the jury being dismissed due to legal reasons. Rico Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 44, were facing trial at Leeds Crown Court for the killing of Watkins, who was fatally stabbed by Gedel in his cell at HMP Wakefield. Watkins, aged 48, was serving a lengthy prison sentence for child sexual offenses.

During the trial, it was revealed that Gedel passed a makeshift knife to Dodsworth after the attack, who then disposed of it in a bin. Both defendants have denied charges of murder and possessing a knife in prison.

Following these developments, the presiding judge, Mr Justice Hilliard, made the decision to discharge the jury, stating that the case would need to be retried. Gedel expressed his aversion to being housed with sex offenders at Wakefield and had previously threatened harm against them if not relocated.

Gedel admitted that he had conflicting feelings about targeting Watkins, citing his close proximity to him as a factor in the attack. Prosecutors argued that both Gedel and Dodsworth were complicit in the murder, with Dodsworth allegedly aware of the impending assault and aiding Gedel in disposing of the weapon.

Dodsworth, who is serving time for a separate crime of rape, maintained his innocence in the incident, claiming he was unaware of Gedel’s intentions. He recounted how Gedel handed him the knife, and in a state of panic, he discarded it after witnessing Watkins’ injuries.

Ian Watkins had been serving a lengthy prison sentence since 2013 for various sexual offenses, including the attempted rape of an infant.