Inquest reveals cause of death for paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins
An inquest has revealed the cause of death for Lostprophets singer and convicted paedophile Ian Watkins.
Watkins was killed in Wakefield Prison on October 11th. He was serving a 35-year sentence after pleading guilty to 13 child sex offences in 2013.
Now, at an inquest held at Wakefield Coroner’s Court, Coroner Oliver Longstaff confirmed that Watkins was pronounced dead at the prison by an attending doctor before he was identified by a prison officer.
The inquest heard from Longstaff that paramedics were called to the scene at Wakefield Prison “following a report he had been stabbed in the neck,” which was fatal.
The coroner then told the court that Watkins’ official cause of death was an incision to the neck.
Last week, West Yorkshire Police charged 25-year-old Rashid Gedel and 43-year-old Samuel Dodsworth with murder over the death of Watkins.
Then, in a further update on October 21st, West Yorkshire Police confirmed that another two further arrests had been made. They shared: “Two men aged 23 and 39 have been arrested from HMP Wakefield on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.”
The statement continued: “They are both in police custody and will be interviewed over the course of today, they will then be bailed and returned to prison while enquiries continue.”
Additionally, in the press release, West Yorkshire Police said that Gedel and Dodsworth are currently on remand awaiting trial after being charged with murder. They both appeared in court last week but have not yet been asked to enter pleas.
In the most recent update, Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said of the case: “Extensive enquiries remain ongoing in relation to the murder of Ian Watkins and these arrests form part of that.”
The former Lostprophets vocalist was previously attacked in Wakefield Prison in 2023 after three other inmates held him captive in a cell for six hours and stabbed him multiple times.
Watkins pled guilty in 2013 to the rape and sexual assault of a child who was under the age of 13, the conspiracy to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing obscene images of children, and one of possessing an extreme image involving a sex act on an animal.
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