Man pleads not guilty to murdering Ian Watkins in prison
Samuel Dodsworth has pled not guilty to murdering Lostprophets singer and convicted paedophile Ian Watkins in prison.
Watkins, who was serving a 35-year sentence after pleading guilty to 13 child sex offences in 2013, was killed in HMP Wakefield on October 11th.
An inquest later ruled that his official cause of death was an incision to the neck caused by being stabbed.
Following his death, 43-year-old Dodsworth and 25-year-old Rashid Gedel were both charged with murder in relation to Watkins.
Per the BBC, Dodsworth appeared in Leeds Crown Court on November 12th and pleaded not guilty to murdering Watkins. He also denied having a makeshift knife in his possession on the day that Watkins was killed.
Gedel reportedly refused to appear in court via video-link and no plea has yet been entered on his behalf.
Dodsworth’s trial is due to begin on May 5th, 2026. There will also be a case management hearing on February 2nd, 2026.
On October 21st, West Yorkshire Police confirmed that two further arrests had been made. However, these suspects were not named. The police force 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.”
Watkins was jailed after he 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.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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