One of two inmates accused of murdering disgraced Lostprophets singer and convicted paedophile Ian Watkins has formally pleaded not guilty. The plea was entered during a hearing at Leeds Crown Court concerning the alleged prison attack that took place last month.
Court Proceedings and Defendant Pleas
Samuel Dodsworth, 43, appeared via video link from HMP Wakefield and denied the charge of murder. He also pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of possession of a makeshift knife inside the prison.
The hearing also involved his co-accused, Rashid Gedel, 25, who was referred to as Rico Gedel during the proceedings. Gedel did not enter a plea. The court heard from a prison officer that Gedel had refused to leave his cell at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire to appear via video link.
Imran Khan, defending Gedel, explained that his client wanted to be present in court in person rather than appear remotely. Judge Guy Kearl KC, the Recorder of Leeds, confirmed a trial date for both men of May 5, 2026, which is estimated to last up to four weeks.
Background of the Fatal Attack
Ian Watkins, 48, died from blood loss after his throat was slashed in an alleged attack on October 11, 2025, at HMP Wakefield, a facility nicknamed 'Monster Mansion'. Despite efforts from police and medics who rushed to the scene, the former singer could not be saved and was airlifted to hospital before being pronounced dead.
This was not the first serious assault on Watkins during his incarceration. He was left fighting for his life after a separate knife attack in 2023, a decade into his sentence.
Watkins's Crimes and Sentencing
Watkins was serving a 35-year sentence after being convicted in 2013 of 13 child sex offences. His horrific crimes included the attempted rape of a baby and sexual assault involving children.
During his 15 years as the frontman of Lostprophets, he used his celebrity status to prey on fans, with the court hearing that two mothers had offered up their own babies to be abused. At his sentencing, he was described as 'a determined and committed paedophile' by Lord Justice Christopher Pitchford, who labelled his acts as 'shocking'.
His crimes came to light after police raided his Pontypridd home for drugs in September 2012 and seized his computer and storage devices. In 2014, he was refused the right to appeal against his sentence.
