One of the two inmates accused of murdering former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins in prison has refused to attend a court appearance.
Rashid Gedel, 25, was supposed to attend court via video link on Tuesday following the killing over the weekend.
The inmate, referred to as Rico Gedel during the hearing and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, are both charged with the murder of Mr Watkins, who was jailed in 2013 after admitting several sex offences, including the attempted rape of a fan's baby.
He was sentenced to 29 years after initially being arrested following a drugs warrant at his home in September 2012.
Ian Watkins, pictured in 2011, was the frontman of rock group Lostprophets
| GETTYComputers, mobile phones, and other devices were seized, which ended up uncovering the musician's crimes.
The disgraced rock star, 48, was found dead on Saturday morning after emergency services were sent to HMP Wakefield, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Tuesday, both of the accused were scheduled to make their first court appearance, but Leeds Crown Court heard how Mr Gedel had refused to attend.
Prosecutor Tom Storey KC said: "The reason for Rico Gedel’s non-appearance this morning is said to be a refusal on his part to attend on the link. It appears he wanted to attend in person," The Mirror reports.
Ian Watkins died while serving a 29-year prison sentence
| PA/SOUTH WALES POLICEOn Saturday, a West Yorkshire Police statement read: "Detectives have launched a murder investigation after the death of a man in HMP Wakefield.
"Officers were called by staff at the prison at 9.39am this morning (Saturday, October 11) to reports of a serious assault on a prisoner.
"A man aged 48 was found with serious injuries. Despite medical attention he was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Two men aged 25 and 43 have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are currently in police custody.
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"Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are investigating and enquiries remain ongoing."
The prison went into lockdown in the immediate aftermath of the incident, sources said.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: "We are aware of an incident at HMP Wakefield which took place this morning.
"We are unable to comment further while the police investigate.
Samuel Dodsworth appearing at Leeds Crown Court via video link from HMP Wakefield
|PA
Mr Watkins was previously taken to hospital after being attacked in 2023. At the time, police said his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
And 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.
Ian Watkins was serving his sentence in Wakefield Prison
|PA
Mr Watkins claimed two inmates forced him to hold on to the phone so they could contact women who sent him fan mail in order to use them as a "revenue stream".
In his evidence, the defendant refused to name the men, but said: "You would not want to mess with them."
He also said his fellow inmates were "murderers, mass murderers, rapists, paedophiles, serial killers – the worst of the worst."