Men go on trial for alleged murder of paedophile singer Ian Watkins

The former Lostprophets frontman was serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offences when he died
Two men accused of murdering the paedophile Ian Watkins are set to go on trial.

Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43 , are charged with murdering Watkins , 48, at HMP Wakefield on 11 October 2025.

Watkins, the former frontman of the rock band Lostprophets, was serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offences.

He was jailed in December 2013, with a further six years on licence, after admitting a string of offences – including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby.

Analysis of the equipment uncovered the singer’s depraved behaviour.

Watkins was previously taken to hospital after being attacked in prison in 2023 .

In 2019, he was jailed for an additional 10 months after he was found guilty of possessing a mobile phone in prison.

The trial is expected to open at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday.