Former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins killed in UK prison attack; 2 suspects in the murder appear in court

British police have arrested two men on suspicion of murder after former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was stabbed to death in a prison in northern England, where he was serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offences.

Emergency services were called to HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire on Saturday morning after Watkins, 48, was attacked with a knife. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

West Yorkshire Police said in a statement that a murder investigation is underway after the arrest of Rashid Gidel (25 years old) and Samuel Dodsworth (43 years old). statement.

Dodsworth and Giedel appeared separately during successive court hearings, speaking only to confirm their names and dates of birth. BBC News reported.

In 2013, Watkins pleaded guilty to 13 charges, including attempted rape of a child, sexual touching of a 1-year-old girl, encouraging a fan to abuse her child, and filming child pornography.

At the time of his sentencing, Judge John Royce described Watkins as a manipulative and dangerous sexual predator who used his fame to help satisfy his “insatiable lust.”

“Those who have appeared before these courts over many years have witnessed a large number of horrific cases,” Royce said in the sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court. “However, this case breaks new ground.”

Watkins was the lead singer of Lostprophets, a Welsh rock band that topped the UK charts in 2006 with their third album, ‘Liberation Transmission’. The band announced that it would disband following Watkins’ arrest. In a statement issued after his conviction, the remaining band members said they were “heartbroken, angry and disgusted” by his crimes, adding that their “hearts break” for his victims, BBC News reported.

It was Watkins He was previously attacked at Wakefield Prison in 2023BBC News reported that his injuries were not life-threatening on that occasion.