A brief inquest hearing has established that former Lostprophets vocalist Ian Watkins suffered a fatal neck stabbing whilst imprisoned at HMP Wakefield on October 11.
The 48-year-old Welsh musician was serving a 29-year term for child sexual offences when the attack occurred at the high-security facility.
Area coroner Oliver Longstaff opened proceedings at Wakefield Coroner’s Court this morning, confirming that a forensic post-mortem examination determined the provisional cause of death as an incision wound to the neck.
The three-minute hearing was swiftly adjourned whilst criminal proceedings continue against those accused of involvement in the killing.
Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins died in prison
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PA/SOUTH WALES POLICEDuring the hearing, Mr Longstaff explained that paramedics had been summoned to the prison after receiving reports that Watkins had sustained a neck stabbing.
The coroner stated that an attending physician declared Mr Watkins deceased at the scene, with formal identification provided by a prison officer.
He noted that the full name used in proceedings was Ian David Karslake Watkins, born July 30, 1977, in Wales, who was unmarried at the time of his death.
Mr Longstaff confirmed that other inmates had been charged with murder, necessitating the suspension of the coroner’s investigation until criminal justice proceedings conclude.
Ian Watkins was the lead singer of the band Lostprophets
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PA“Whether an inquest into the death requires to be resumed following the conclusion of that criminal process is a matter of complete speculation and remains to be seen,” he stated.
Two inmates face murder charges following the fatal assault: 25-year-old Rashid Gedel and 43-year-old Samuel Dodsworth.
The pair made a court appearance last week but were not required to enter pleas at that stage.
Leeds Crown Court heard that Dodsworth participated via video link from HMP Wakefield, whilst Mr Gedel declined remote attendance, insisting on appearing in person.
Ian Watkins, pictured in 2011
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GETTYJudge Guy Kearl, the Recorder of Leeds, scheduled a provisional trial date of May 5, with proceedings expected to last between two and three weeks.
West Yorkshire Police revealed this week that two additional suspects, aged 23 and 39, were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.
Both men have been granted bail and returned to custody whilst investigations proceed.
Mr Watkins received a 29-year prison term in December 2013, with an additional six years on licence, after pleading guilty to multiple sexual offences involving children, including attempting to rape an infant belonging to a fan.
The sentencing judge, Mr Justice Royce, declared that the case “plunged into new depths of depravity” and represented unprecedented territory in criminal proceedings.
This was not the first violent incident involving Watkins at the facility – in August 2023, he required hospital treatment following an assault by fellow prisoners.
Reports at that time indicated he had been held captive by three inmates for six hours before officers intervened.
