London, Nov 12, (PA Media/dpa/GNA) – An inmate, has pleaded not guilty to murdering former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins in Britain’s Wakefield Prison.
The defendant, one of two accused in relation to the murder, also denied a charge of possession of a makeshift knife inside a prison.
The judge confirmed a trial date for both men of May 5 2026, saying it could last up to four weeks.
Emergency services were sent to the prison in West Yorkshire on October 11, but disgraced rock star Watkins, 48, who was serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offences, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Watkins, 48, was jailed 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.
The singer was arrested following the execution of a drugs warrant at his Pontypridd home on September 21 2012, when a large number of computers, mobile phones and storage devices were seized.
Analysis of the equipment uncovered Watkins’ depraved behaviour.
Watkins was previously taken to hospital after being attacked in 2023.
In 2019 he was jailed for 10 months on top of the sentence he was serving for child sex offences, after he was found guilty of possessing a mobile phone in prison.
In 2014, Watkins was told he could not appeal against the length of his 29-year jail term.
Both defendants were remanded in custody and will next appear for a case management hearing on February 2.
GNA