New details have emerged regarding the death of convicted paedophile Ian Watkins, the former frontman of Welsh rock band Lostprophets, as two inmates at HMP Wakefield stand trial at Leeds Crown Court accused of murdering the singer.
Rico Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 44, both deny the murder charge as well as possession of a makeshift blade within the prison.
Mr Watkins, 48, was fatally stabbed in his cell on October 11 last year while serving a lengthy sentence for child sexual offences.
Prosecutor Tom Storey KC told jurors on Thursday that the Crown considers this a joint enterprise, with both men allegedly intending to cause the victim serious harm at a minimum.
Ian Watkins was the lead singer of the band Lostprophets | PAMr Gedel accepts responsibility for the killing but maintains he lost control, admitting only to manslaughter. Mr Dodsworth claims he had no prior knowledge of the planned assault.
The prosecution outlined how Mr Gedel entered Mr Watkins' cell shortly before 9:20am, less than 20 minutes after officers had unlocked the doors on B wing that morning.
Armed with an improvised blade fitted with a Stanley knife-type edge, he inflicted three stab wounds to the victim's head and neck in an assault lasting merely 20 seconds.
One of these injuries severed Mr Watkins' jugular vein and surrounding muscle tissue, causing severe blood loss.
Ian Watkins was serving a sentence for child sex offences
| PA/SOUTH WALES POLICEThe former rock singer emerged briefly from his cell with blood visible on his T-shirt, clutching his neck wound.
Maintenance workers spotted him and alerted staff, with prison officers rushing to apply pressure to the large gash.
Despite their efforts and those of paramedics, Mr Watkins lost consciousness and was pronounced dead shortly before 10:15am.
The Crown's case rests on the assertion that Mr Dodsworth was fully aware the assault would take place and participated by disposing of the weapon immediately afterwards.
Ian Watkins, pictured in 2011 | GETTYLATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
CCTV footage showed the pair meeting in another prisoner's cell beforehand, with Mr Dodsworth allegedly entering carrying a bundled towel or dressing gown and leaving without it.
While Mr Gedel waited by the railings outside Mr Watkins' cell, Mr Dodsworth reportedly positioned himself near the staircase, apparently serving as a lookout, the court heard.
After the stabbing, Mr Gedel walked towards his co-defendant and handed him an object, which Mr Dodsworth placed in his tracksuit pocket before later depositing it in a bin.
Officers subsequently recovered a bloodied homemade knife from the bottom of that bin.
HMP Wakefield
| PAMr Dodsworth told police he acted "in panic" and attempted to return the blade to Mr Gedel.
Following his arrest, Mr Gedel offered no resistance to officers, simply standing with his arms outstretched as they approached him.
As he was escorted past the cell where Mr Watkins was receiving medical attention, he allegedly remarked: "Have a good night's sleep, Watkins lad."
Staff tasked with monitoring Mr Gedel through his cell door hatch noted his notably upbeat manner in the aftermath.
Ian Watkins was 48
|GETTY
The prosecutor told jurors that Mr Gedel discussed his original offence with one officer, stating words to the effect of: "If I'm going to do life for murder, I'm going to make sure it's worth it."
He also allegedly boasted: "If I've killed him, you could be talking to someone famous."
The trial, expected to last approximately three weeks, continues.
Mr Watkins had been described in court as a "particularly notorious and high-profile" prisoner, serving a 35-year extended sentence for a string of child sexual offences including the attempted rape of a baby.
HMP Wakefield
|HMP WAKEFIELD
The sentencing judge at his original trial had told him he had "plunged into new depths of depravity" and displayed minimal remorse.
The day before his death, Mr Watkins received two notes accusing him of having another inmate removed from the wing, demanding money, and threatening violence.
Mr Storey explained that prisons are environments where grudges develop and are acted upon, and where informing on fellow inmates is viewed dimly.
Mr Gedel had been transferred to the same wing just one day prior to the killing, placed "coincidentally" in the cell adjacent to his victim.
Mr Storey also said that staff who observed Mr Gedel after the incident noticed he had a "his perky demeanour".
"He also told the same officer, 'If I've killed him, you could be talking to someone famous'," the prosecutor said.