A man has entered a not guilty plea in connection with the murder of disgraced Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins at HMP Wakefield last month.
Watkins, 48, was serving a 29-year sentence at the high-security prison, often referred to as “Monster Mansion,” following his conviction on serious child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.
Watkins was initially arrested after police executed a drugs warrant at his Pontypridd home on September 21, 2012, seizing numerous computers, mobile phones, and storage devices. Forensic analysis of these devices later exposed his horrific criminal activities.
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Rashid Gedel, 25—also known as Rico Gedel—and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, have both been charged with murder in relation to the incident on October 11 this year. Despite emergency services being dispatched to the West Yorkshire prison, Watkins was declared dead at the scene.
Dodsworth appeared via video link from HMP Wakefield for a plea, trial, and preparation hearing at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday. Gedel declined to attend, believing he would be brought to court in person, according to reports from Yorkshire Live.
When asked to enter his plea, Dodsworth responded “not guilty” to charges of murder and possession of an offensive weapon inside the prison on October 11.
Recorder of Leeds Judge Guy Kearl confirmed that a further hearing is scheduled for December 2. The trial, expected to last more than two weeks, is set to begin on May 5 next year.