Prisoner enters plea after Ian Watkins stabbing as second inmate refuses to leave his cell

An inmate has pleaded not guilty to murdering former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins in Wakefield Prison. Samuel Dodsworth, 43, appeared by video link at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday for a hearing which also involved his co-accused, Rashid Gedel, 25, who was referred to as Rico Gedel during the proceedings.

But Judge Guy Kearl KC heard from a prison officer how Gedel had refused to leave his cell at HMP Long Lartin, in Worcestershire. Dodsworth, still at HMP Wakefield, pleaded not guilty and denied the possession of a makeshift knife in prison. Gedel's lawyer, Imran Khan, said he would not appear via video link as he wanted to be in court in-person, and no pleas were entered for him.

A trial date for both men was set for May 5, 2026, by Judge Kearl, the Recorder of Leeds, who said it could last up to four weeks.

Both defendants were remanded in custody and will next appear for a case management hearing on February 2.

Watkins was pronounced dead at the scene on October 11 while serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offences. He was stabbed in the neck, Wakefield Coroners' Court heard.

A post-mortem examination found that the cause of his death was an "incision wound to the neck".

In 2012, computers, phones, and storage devices were seized from his home in Pontypridd, Wales, when a drugs warrant was executed.

He was then jailed in 2013 after admitting to multiple crimes, including attempting to rape a fan's baby. The following year, he was told he could not appeal against the length of his sentence.

In 2019, he was jailed for another 10 months for possessing a mobile phone in prison while serving the sentence for child sex offences.

Watkins was previously stabbed in prison in 2023, where he was rushed to hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.