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 youngster 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 have been returned to jail as inquiries continued.
Coroner Oliver Longstaff mentioned Watkins, who was referred to by his full title of Ian David Karslake Watkins in the course of the temporary listening to, had been pronounced useless on the West Yorkshire jail by an attending physician and was formally recognized by a jail officer.
Mr Longstaff mentioned paramedics have been known as to the jail “following a report he had been stabbed within the neck”.
The coroner mentioned 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 beneath 13.
He admitted 13 offences, together with conspiring to rape a baby, three counts of sexual assault involving kids, 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, medication, and energy who had dedicated crimes “past creativeness.”
Mr Justice Royce mentioned 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 courtroom final week charged along 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 shaped in Pontypridd in 1997, and bought hundreds of thousands of albums all over the world.
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 mentioned in 2014: “Despite the fact that I used to be fully performed with him, I hoped it was all a mistake, he was harmless, he needed to be.
“The primary time, we knew the band was performed. You’ll be able to’t return from that.”
The remaining bandmates and American singer Geoff Rickly shaped a brand new band, No Devotion, quickly after.
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