UMVA has learned that a shocking turn of events has unfolded in the case of convicted paedophile Ian Watkins, who was brutally stabbed to death in prison last October.
The gruesome murder took place at high-security HMP Wakefield, where Watkins was serving a 29-year sentence for heinous child sexual offences. The attack was carried out by Rico Gedel, 25, who allegedly stabbed Watkins in his cell.
Gedel handed a makeshift knife to fellow inmate Samuel Dodsworth, 44, who disposed of it in a bin. Both defendants have denied murdering Watkins and possessing a knife in prison, but prosecutors argue that Dodsworth was complicit in the attack.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Gedel had threatened to hurt "any number of paedophiles" if he was not transferred to a different wing, and had specifically targeted Watkins due to their proximity in the prison.
The trial at Leeds Crown Court heard Gedel's testimony, in which he claimed that "part of him" wanted to kill Watkins, but another part did not. Meanwhile, Dodsworth maintained that he played no part in the attack and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In a dramatic twist, the jury was discharged for legal reasons, forcing the case to be re-tried. The judge, Mr Justice Hilliard, expressed his disappointment, saying "Very reluctantly, I'm going to discharge you and the case will have to be re-tried."
Watkins was originally jailed in December 2013 for 29 years, with a further six years on licence, after admitting a string of horrific sex offences. His brutal murder has sent shockwaves through the prison system, raising questions about the safety of both inmates and staff.
