Watkins murder accused 'smug' after cell attack

A prisoner accused of murdering paedophile singer Ian Watkins was "unhappy" about having to move wings the day before the fatal attack and had threatened to "do something to get moved to segregation", a court has heard.

Prosecutors allege Rico Gedel stabbed Watkins to death in his cell at HMP Wakefield on 11 October, where the former Lostprophets frontman was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences.

Prison officer Adam Laycock told Leeds Crown Court he had seen Gedel after the attack and described him as "smug", while another officer said he "did not seem bothered".

Gedel, 25, and fellow inmate Samuel Dodsworth, 44, deny murder and possession of a makeshift knife in prison.

In a statement read to the jury, Laycock said he had been involved in moving Gedel, who was initially referred to by police as Rashid Gedel, from A wing to B wing the day before Watkins was killed.

He said: "Gedel didn't want to move wings. He had mentioned a number of times that if he was moved he would do something.

"Often this is the kind of threat prisoners make and often they do nothing to carry it out.

"I knew Gedel would rather go to segregation than be moved to somewhere he didn't want to be."

Laycock said he rushed to B wing on the day of Watkins' death after hearing a "code red" called, and saw Gedel being escorted by officers.

"I noticed Gedel was looking somewhat smug, and seemed to have a smirk on his face," his statement read.

Another prison officer from A wing, Justin Barrett, said he saw Gedel being restrained after the "code red".

He said: "I wasn't shocked to see it was him. He had not been happy about the move from A to B wing.

"I heard him say he would do something to get moved to segregation."

Jurors also heard statements from several officers who searched Gedel when he was moved to his cell after the incident.

Anthony Whiteside said Gedel was "calm and cold" throughout the search and "did not seem bothered about what had occurred".

His statement read: "Gedel said something like: 'You'll never find it', (when asked about the weapon).

"He said things like: 'I hope he sleeps' and 'I hope he goes to sleep'. It was clear he had hurt him."

Watkins was jailed for 29 years in December 2013, with a further six years on licence, after admitting a string of sex offences – including the attempted rape of a fan's baby.

The trial continues.

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