A court has heard that an inmate accused of murdering paedophile singer Ian Watkins believed the crime would bring him notoriety. The alleged killer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is on trial for the murder of the Lostprophets frontman in 2013. The prosecution claims that the inmate, who was a fan of the band, stabbed Watkins to death in his cell at HMP Wakefield.
Prosecutors say that the inmate had been planning the attack for some time and had been motivated by Watkins's paedophile past. The court heard that the defendant had been a fan of Lostprophets and had become outraged by the singer's convictions for child sex offences.
The trial at Wakefield Crown Court has heard that the inmate had been making preparations for the attack, including sharpening a makeshift knife and planning the timing of the assault. The prosecution claims that the inmate had expected to be caught and had hoped to gain notoriety as a result of the crime.
The trial continues, with the prosecution expected to present further evidence in the coming days. The outcome of the trial is likely to have significant implications for the UK's prisons and the way that they deal with violent and high-profile inmates.
The court has heard that Watkins was serving a 35-year sentence for child sex offences when he was murdered. He had been convicted in 2013 of a string of sex crimes, including the attempted rape of a baby.
The incident highlights the ongoing concerns about violence in UK prisons and the need for improved security measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.