A man has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ian Watkins, the disgraced former frontman of the rock band Lostprophets, who was killed inside HMP Wakefield.
Court Hearing and Pleas Entered
During a plea and trial preparation hearing at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday, Samuel Dodsworth, 43, appeared via video link from the prison and formally entered a 'not guilty' plea to the charge of murder. He also denied a separate charge of possession of an offensive weapon within a prison.
The alleged assault that led to Watkins' death occurred on 11 October this year. Despite the swift response from emergency services, the 48-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
A second man charged with the murder, 25-year-old Rashid Gedel (also known as Rico Gedel), declined to appear at the hearing. The court was informed he had expected to be produced in person.
Background of the Victim
Ian Watkins was serving a 29-year sentence at the time of his death. He had been convicted of horrific child sex offences, including the attempted rape of an infant.
His crimes came to light after a police raid on his home in Pontypridd on 21 September 2012. Officers executing a drugs warrant seized a significant number of computers, mobile phones, and data storage devices. The subsequent forensic analysis of this equipment uncovered the full extent of his depravity.
Next Steps in the Legal Process
Recorder of Leeds Judge Guy Kearl presided over the hearing and confirmed the schedule for the upcoming legal proceedings. A further hearing has been scheduled for 2 December.
The full trial for both defendants is set to begin on 5 May next year and is expected to last for approximately two weeks. The case continues to draw significant public attention due to the notoriety of the victim and the circumstances of the crime.
