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Disgraced Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins died after being stabbed within the neck in an alleged jail assault, an inquest has heard.
Watkins, 48, died on 11 October after being assaulted at HMP Wakefield, the place he had been serving a 29-year jail sentence for baby intercourse offences together with the tried rape of a child.
The inquest, opened earlier at Wakefield Coroner’s Court docket, was adjourned pending the completion of an related homicide trial.
Two males have been charged with homicide in reference to Watkins’ demise whereas two different males, aged 23 and 39, arrested earlier this week on suspicion of conspiracy to homicide had been returned to jail as inquiries continued.
Coroner Oliver Longstaff stated Watkins, who was referred to by his full identify of Ian David Karslake Watkins through the temporary listening to, had been pronounced lifeless on the West Yorkshire jail by an attending physician and was formally recognized by a jail officer.
Mr Longstaff stated paramedics had been referred to as to the jail “following a report he had been stabbed within the neck”.
The coroner stated a autopsy report gave the reason for demise as an incision to the neck.
‘Depths of depravity’
In 2013 at Cardiff Crown Court docket, Watkins denied rape however admitted the tried rape and sexual assault of a kid underneath 13.
He admitted 13 offences, together with conspiring to rape a toddler, three counts of sexual assault involving youngsters, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent photographs of youngsters and one in all possessing an excessive picture involving a intercourse act on an animal.
Prosecutors had described him as a person corrupted by fame, medicine, and energy who had dedicated crimes “past creativeness.”
Mr Justice Royce stated the case had damaged “new floor” and “plunged into new depths of depravity”.
Watkins was additionally stabbed in jail in 2023. Following that assault, he was taken to hospital with accidents which weren’t life-threatening.
Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, appeared in court docket final week charged together with his homicide, however weren’t requested to enter pleas.
Who was Ian Watkins?
Watkins performing in London in 2012 [Getty Images]
Watkins was as soon as one in all Wales’ most recognisable musicians – the frontman of the rock band Lostprophets.
The band fashioned in Pontypridd in 1997, and offered tens of millions of albums around the globe.
They launched 5 studio albums, one in all which reached primary within the UK.
The group additionally had some success within the US, with their second and third albums reaching the top-40.
They disbanded instantly after Watkins was convicted in 2013.
His former bandmates spoke publicly about their shock and disgust.
Bassist Stuart Richardson stated in 2014: “Despite the fact that I used to be utterly completed with him, I hoped it was all a mistake, he was harmless, he needed to be.
“The primary time, we knew the band was completed. You possibly can’t return from that.”
The remaining bandmates and American singer Geoff Rickly fashioned a brand new band, No Devotion, quickly after.
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