The fallout from the killing of former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins continues to unfold, with one of the two inmates accused of murdering him formally denying the charge.
Watkins, who was serving a 29 year sentence at Wakefield Prison for a string of horrific child sex crimes, was stabbed to death with an improvised weapon on October 11.
According to the BBC, Samuel Dodsworth, 43, pleaded not guilty to murder during a Wednesday hearing at Leeds Crown Court. His co-defendant, Rashid Gedel, 25, refused to leave his cell for the video link appearance, meaning he did not enter a plea, both men are already behind bars for unrelated offences.
Judge Guy Kearl KC has now set a trial date for May 5, 2026, with the proceedings expected to stretch across four weeks. Watkins’ death continues to stir uneasy recollections from those who crossed paths with him in Lostprophets’ touring years. The Mirror recently revisited comments from DJ and producer Josh Friend of Modestep, who supported Lostprophets on tour in 2011. Friend recalls sensing that something was deeply off even before the crowds rolled in.
“Even from the first soundcheck, things were just a bit off,” he said. Touring etiquette usually means treating everyone “like family,” but that wasn’t the vibe. “It was clear that there was tension in the air amongst everyone,” he added, describing a “weird atmosphere from the get go”.
Friend went on to explain that Watkins skipped most soundchecks and barely interacted with anyone. Over an entire six week run, he only spoke to the singer once. Watkins was usually “chauffeured around by the tour manager” and “you could tell his mind was elsewhere”.
Two additional inmates have also been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, though neither has yet entered a plea.
Watkins’ legacy has long been a stain on the rock world, but the messy and violent circumstances of his death have now opened the door to another long, complicated legal battle, one that will likely drag deep into next year.
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