Overview

• Ian Watkins, 48, was pronounced dead after what police called a serious assault at HMP Wakefield on Saturday, October 11.
• West Yorkshire Police charged inmates Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, with murder after separate appearances at Leeds Magistrates’ Court where they were remanded.
• The defendants are scheduled to appear at Leeds Crown Court, advancing the homicide case to the next stage of proceedings.
• Watkins was serving a 29-year sentence for multiple child sex offences dating to his 2013 conviction, and he had previously survived a 2023 assault in the same prison.
• Former inmates and staff quoted in media reports described Watkins as a long‑time target in a volatile high‑security environment; some outlets have alleged graphic details of the attack that police have not confirmed as the investigation continues.