Two charged with murder of Lostprophets paedophile singer Ian Watkins in prison
Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
Two men have been charged with murder after paedophile singer Ian Watkins was stabbed to death in prison over the weekend.
The disgraced Lostprophets singer died at HMP Wakefield with two men arrested in the aftermath, and West Yorkshire Police have released a statement confirming that two men would appear in court this morning (13 October).
In a statement they said: "Detectives have charged two men with murder after the death of a prisoner at HMP Wakefield on Saturday.
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"Ian Watkins aged 48 was pronounced dead after being seriously assaulted at HMP Wakefield on Saturday morning (11 October).
"Rashid Gedel aged 25 who self defines as any other black background and Samuel Dodsworth aged 43 who self defines as white British both of HMP Wakefield have both been charged with murder.
"They are due to appear at Leeds Magistrates Court this morning."
Watkins had been serving a 29 year sentence for child sex offences, and the convicted paedophile had been attacked in prison before.
Speaking at a time when Watkins had attempted to appeal his sentence, Lord Justice Pitchford had described the singer's crimes as 'offences against infant children of such shocking depravity that a very lengthy sentence of imprisonment was demanded' during his rejection for Watkins to serve a lesser sentence.
Watkins had been given consecutive prison terms of 14 and 15 years for engaging in sexual activity with a child and the attempted rape of an 11-month-old baby.
He had also been convicted of 11 other offences, with his sentences for those running concurrent with his 29 year required time in prison.
Joanne Mjadzelics, Watkins' former girlfriend, said she was surprised it 'took so long' for him to be killed in prison.
Police explained that officers had been called to the prison at 9:39am on Saturday after reports of a serious assault on a prisoner.
When they got there, they found Watkins with 'serious injuries' and he was pronounced dead at the scene, with two men arrested on suspicion of murder as a result.
The Lostprophets singer had been arrested in 2012 after a drugs search of his home resulted in computers, phones and storage devices being seized.
Analysis of the devices provided enough evidence to convict Watkins of serious child sex offences.
His former bandmate Lee Gaze, speaking in the aftermath of his death, called him a 'sick c**t' and said: "I can assure you had any of us known he’d never of made it as far as prison."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.
Joe Harker