A second inmate has denied murdering former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins in jail.
Disgraced rock star Watkins, 48, died after an alleged attack last October at HMP Wakefield, where he was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences.
A provisional post-mortem concluded Watkins died from ‘an incision wound to the neck’ at the maximum-security prison, an inquest heard in October last year.
Today, Rashid Gedel, 25, referred to as Rico Gedel in court, became the second serving prisoner to plead not guilty to murdering Watkins.
His co-accused Samuel Dodsworth, 43, denied the offence at a hearing in November, appearing on a video link from prison.
Earlier this month, Dodsworth refused to leave his cell to attend court, where he was supposed to enter a plea.
Gedel has refused to attend previous hearings over the link, saying he wanted to appear in person.
He was brought to Leeds Crown Court for today’s hearing, where he pleaded not guilty to murder and possession of a ‘makeshift knife’ in prison.
Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins,48, died after an alleged attack last October at HMP Wakefield, where he was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences
Rashid Gedel, 25, referred to as Rico Gedel in court, became the second serving prisoner to plead not guilty to murdering Watkins
His co-accused Samuel Dodsworth, 43, denied the offence at a hearing in November, appearing on a video link from prison
Both Gedel and Dodsworth are charged with murdering Watkins at HMP Wakefield on October 11, with their trial due to start on May 5.
Watkins was jailed for 29 years in December 2013, with a further six years on licence, after admitting a string of sex offences – including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby.
He was arrested following the execution of a drugs warrant at his Pontypridd home on September 21, 2012.
A large number of computers, mobile phones and storage devices were seized and analysis of the equipment uncovered the singer’s depraved behaviour.
In 2019, he was jailed for an additional 10 months after he was found guilty of possessing a mobile phone in prison.
Watkins survived a knife attack in the neck after being taken hostage by three inmates at HMP Wakefield.