One of the men accused of killing Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins behind bars pleaded not guilty to the murder on Wednesday.
Samuel Dodsworth, 43, appeared in Leeds Crown Court via video-link from HMP Wakefield prison, where Watkins, a convicted pedophile, was stabbed in the neck and killed in October. Dodsworth also denied being in possession of a makeshift knife on the day of Watkins’ murder.
Another man charged with murder for Watkins’ death, 25-year-old prisoner Rico Gedel, did not enter a plea as he reportedly refused to leave his cell because he wanted to appear in court in person to face the charges, the BBC reports; Gedel did not take part in the video-link, and no plea was entered on his behalf.
Four inmates were arrested in connection with Watkins’ death, with the two other men accused of conspiracy to commit murder. Both Dodsworth and Gedel will face trial on May 5, 2026, on the murder charges, the judge said Wednesday.
Watkins died at the age of 48 on October 11 at West Yorkshire, England’s HMP Wakefield prison, where the former singer was serving a 29-year sentence after pleading guilty to 13 charges, including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby and making child pornography.
Watkins was jailed in December 2013 after admitting a string of horrific sex offenses — including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby; a trial judge later said that the charges against Watkins “plumbed new depths of depravity.”
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Watkins was previously attacked at the jail in August 2023 by three other prisoners, an incident that left him with neck injuries that required hospital treatment. England’s HMP Wakefield is considered one of the country’s most notorious prisons and is dubbed the “Monster Mansion” as its residents include serial killers, murderers, and pedophiles.
Prior to his arrest and conviction, Watkins and Lostprophets were a successful band that had sold over 3.4 million albums and had hits like “Last Train Home” and “Rooftops.” Their last record was 2012’s Weapons, released two months before Watkins’ arrest in September 2012.
