Two men face murder charges following the death of disgraced musician Ian Watkins at a high-security Yorkshire prison on Saturday morning.
Rashid Gedel, aged 25, and 43-year-old Samuel Dodsworth are scheduled to appear at Leeds Magistrates' Court this morning in connection with the killing.
The incident occurred shortly after 9:30am on Saturday at HMP Wakefield, where the former Lostprophets vocalist was serving a lengthy prison term.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed both suspects have been formally charged with murder following the fatal assault on the 47-year-old convicted sex offender.
Ian Watkins, pictured here in 2011, was the frontman of rock group Lostprophets | GETTYMr Watkins had been incarcerated since 2013 after receiving a 29-year sentence for multiple child sexual offences.
The convicted paedophile had pleaded guilty to attempting to rape an infant, alongside sexual assault of a minor under 13 years old.
His admissions also encompassed conspiracy to commit child rape, three instances of sexually assaulting children, and seven charges related to creating, distributing or holding indecent photographs of minors.
Additionally, he confessed to possessing extreme pornographic material depicting bestiality.
HMP Wakefield where Ian Watkins died | PAThe presiding judge, Mr Justice Royce, declared during sentencing that the case had broken "new ground" and "plunged into new depths of depravity".
Whilst Mr Watkins acknowledged most charges, he maintained his innocence regarding one count of rape.
The Welsh rock group Lostprophets achieved significant commercial success after forming in Pontypridd in 1997.
Between 2002 and 2010, the band secured 11 singles in the UK's top 40 chart positions and reached number one with an album release.
Lostprophets band members including Lee Gaze (left) and Ian Watkins (second from right) | PAFollowing Mr Watkins' conviction, his former bandmates released a public statement expressing their devastation at learning about his crimes.
They described feeling "heartbroken, angry, and disgusted" by his actions and extended their sympathies to those he had harmed.
The group, which had become one of Britain's most successful rock acts, effectively disbanded following the revelations about their frontman's offences.
HMP Wakefield houses over 600 prisoners and is known for detaining some of Britain's most dangerous criminals.
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Ian Watkins has died while serving a 29-year prison sentence | PA/SOUTH WALES POLICEThis was not the first violent incident involving Mr Watkins at the facility - he suffered non-fatal injuries during an assault in 2023.
A recent inspection report released last month revealed concerning developments at the maximum-security establishment.
The assessment found that violent incidents had "increased markedly" compared to the previous review conducted in 2022.
The Yorkshire prison continues to face challenges managing its high-risk population, with Saturday's fatal attack representing the most serious incident involving the convicted paedophile during his incarceration.