South Wales PoliceDisgraced Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins died after being stabbed in the neck in an alleged prison attack, an inquest has heard.
Watkins, 48, died on 11 October after being assaulted at HMP Wakefield, where he had been serving a 29-year jail sentence for child sex offences including the attempted rape of a baby.
The inquest, opened earlier at Wakefield Coroner’s Court, was adjourned pending the completion of an associated murder trial.
Two men have been charged with murder in connection with Watkins’ death while two other men, aged 23 and 39, arrested earlier this week on suspicion of conspiracy to murder were returned to prison as inquiries continued.
Coroner Oliver Longstaff said Watkins, who was referred to by his full name of Ian David Karslake Watkins during the brief hearing, had been pronounced dead at the West Yorkshire jail by an attending doctor and was formally identified by a prison officer.
Mr Longstaff said paramedics were called to the jail “following a report he had been stabbed in the neck”.
The coroner said a post-mortem report gave the cause of death as an incision to the neck.
In 2013, the Welsh singer pleaded guilty to 13 child sex offences including the attempted rape of a baby.
Prosecutors had described him as a man corrupted by fame, drugs, and power who had committed crimes “beyond imagination.”
Watkins was also stabbed in prison in 2023. Following that attack, he was taken to hospital with injuries which were not life-threatening.
Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, appeared in court last week charged with his murder, but were not asked to enter pleas.
Who was Ian Watkins?
Getty ImagesWatkins was once one of Wales’ most recognisable musicians – the frontman of the rock band Lostprophets.
The band formed in Pontypridd in 1997, and sold millions of albums around the world.
They released five studio albums in total, one of which reached number one in the UK.
The group also had some success in the US, with their second and third albums reaching the top-40.
They disbanded immediately after Watkins was convicted in 2013.
His former bandmates spoke publicly about their shock and disgust at Watkins’ actions.
Bassist Stuart Richardson said in 2014: “Even though I was completely done with him, I hoped it was all a mistake, he was innocent, he had to be.
“The first time, we knew the band was done. You can’t go back from that.”
The remaining group members and American singer Geoff Rickly formed a new band, No Devotion, the same year.
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