Ian Watkins murder trial collapses as judge vents 'disappointment'
A jury has been discharged for legal reasons as the trial of two prisoners accused of killing disgraced Lost Prophets singer Ian Watkins has collapsed.
Rico Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 44, were standing trial at Leeds Crown Court when Mr Justice Hilliard brought proceedings to a halt on Friday.
"Very reluctantly, I'm going to discharge you and the case will have to be retried. That's disappointing for you and for everyone," the judge told jurors.
Both men deny murdering the former rock star, who died aged 48, last October and will now face a fresh trial at a later date.
Watkins was fatally stabbed by Gedel inside his cell at HMP Wakefield, where the former musician was serving a 29-year sentence for child sex crimes.
The court was told Gedel used a makeshift blade to carry out the attack, and upon leaving the cell, passed the weapon to Dodsworth.
Prosecutors argued both defendants bore responsibility for the killing, claiming Dodsworth had prior knowledge the assault would take place and aided Gedel by disposing of the improvised knife in a bin.
The pair also face charges of possessing a blade within the prison, which they likewise deny.
During the trial, Gedel expressed his deep resentment at being housed alongside sex offenders at Wakefield prison.
Gedel claimed he had issued threats to harm "any number of paedophiles" unless authorities arranged his transfer.
He testified he selected Watkins as his target primarily because of how close they were housed to one another, having been placed in the adjacent cell just the night before.
This move came after Gedel was relocated from a different wing following assaults on three other inmates there.
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"Sometimes what your heart wants is not what your brain wants," Gedel told the court.
Explaining that part of him desired Watkins' death while another part did not.
Dodsworth, who is currently serving time for raping a woman, maintained he had no involvement in the attack and was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time.
He told the court when Gedel emerged from the cell and handed him the weapon, he attempted to give it back but ultimately threw it away after seeing Watkins injured and panicking.
Watkins had been imprisoned in December 2013 after pleading guilty to multiple sexual offences, including the attempted rape of a fan's baby.
He received a 29-year prison term with an additional six years on licence.
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