Dodsworth Pleads Not Guilty in Watkins Prison Murder

Samuel Dodsworth pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of murdering former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins at HMP Wakefield prison in West Yorkshire, where Watkins was serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offenses. The incident occurred on October 11, and Dodsworth, 43, appeared via video link from the prison during a plea and trial preparation hearing at Leeds Crown Court. His co-accused, Rashid Gedel, 25, also known as Rico Gedel, did not attend.

Judge Guy Kearl KC, the Recorder of Leeds, presided over the hearing. A prison officer reported that Gedel, who is held at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire, refused to leave his cell for the video link. Imran Khan, Gedel's defense counsel, told the court that his client had requested to appear in person. No pleas were entered for Gedel. Dodsworth also denied a separate charge of possessing an offensive weapon, described in court as a makeshift knife, inside the prison on the day of the incident.

Emergency services responded to HMP Wakefield, known informally as Monster Mansion due to its housing of high-profile inmates, but Watkins, 48, was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy indicated he died from blood loss after his...