Paedophile singer Ian Watkins died after being stabbed in the neck, inquest told
Paedophile former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins died in prison from stab wounds to his neck, the inquest heard.
Coroner Oliver Longstaff, of Wakefield Coroner’s Court, said Watkins, whose full name was Ian David Karslake Watkins during the brief hearing, was pronounced dead by a doctor at HMP Wakefield on Saturday, October 11, and was formally identified by a prison officer.
Mr Longstaff said paramedics were called to the prison where Watkins was being held “following a report that he had been stabbed in the neck”. The autopsy report showed the cause of death was a cut to the neck, the coroner said.
The coroner’s inquest has been suspended “pending the outcome of the criminal justice process” as two men have been charged with murder in connection with the incident. Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, are in custody awaiting trial after appearing first at Leeds Magistrates’ Court and then at Leeds Crown Court.
Mr Longstaff said: “Whether an investigation into the death should continue following the conclusion of criminal proceedings is entirely a matter of speculation and remains to be seen.”
Emergency services were called to the prison on Saturday morning following reports that Watkins had been attacked with a knife. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two more men, aged 23 and 39, were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. They were placed in police custody for questioning before returning to prison.
Dodsworth appeared via video link from HMP Wakefield, but Gedel, referred to in court as Rico Gedel, had refused to attend remotely as he wanted to appear in person. The couple was not asked to make a request.
Leeds registrar Judge Guy Kearl provisionally set May 5 for the hearing, which is expected to last two to three weeks.
Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle, senior investigating officer from West Yorkshire Police, said: “Extensive investigations into the murder of Ian Watkins are ongoing and these arrests form part of that. Ian Watkins’ family are being updated as the investigation progresses. However, we do not expect any immediate developments at this stage.”
Watkins was sentenced to 29 years in prison in 2013, plus a further six years on license, after admitting to numerous sexual offences, including attempting to rape a fan’s 11-month-old baby. He was first arrested at his home in Pontypridd in September 2012 following the execution of a drugs warrant, which saw a number of computers, mobile phones and storage devices seized.
Their crimes were revealed after the equipment was examined.
During his time at HMP Wakefield, he was stabbed by three other inmates in 2023 after reportedly being held hostage for six hours; He suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
He appeared in court again in 2019 for phone possession charges behind bars, describing his fellow inmates as “murderers, mass murderers, rapists, pedophiles, serial killers – the worst.”
