One of the alleged killers of paedophile Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins refused to take part in a court hearing today.
Rico Gedel, 25, who previously appeared in court under the first name Rashid, was due to appear at Leeds Crown Court this morning along with Samuel Dodsworth, 43.
Both prisoners are charged with murdering the disgraced rock singer at HMP Wakefield on Saturday.
Watkins was serving nearly three decades behind bars for a series of horrific child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby daughter.
However, the court was told how Gedel had ‘refused’ to appear over a prison videolink.
Tom Storey, KC, prosecuting, said: ‘The reason for Gedel’s non-appearance this morning is said to be a refusal on his part to attend by link because it appears he wanted to attend in person.’
Emergency services were called to the maximum security prison on Saturday morning, where the 48-year-old was serving nearly three decades over a series of horrific child sex offences.
Dodsworth appeared over the video link from a segregation unit at HMP Wakefield.
Prisoners Rashid Gedel, 25, whose name was given in court today as Rico Gedel (left), and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, have been charged with murdering Ian Watkins at Wakefield jail on Saturday
Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was killed on Saturday at HMP Wakefield, where he was serving 29 years for child sex offences
He wore a grey t-shirt and kept his arms folded and appeared expressionless throughout the brief five-minute hearing.
Neither suspect entered or indicated pleas and a provisional two-to-three week trial was fixed for May 5 next year.
A plea and trial preparation hearing will be held on November 12.
Mr Storey said there was no application for bail ‘for perfectly obvious reasons’.
The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Guy Kearl, KC, said: ‘Rico Gedel and Samuel Dodsworth will be remanded in custody.
‘They will next appear before this court on November 12 this year for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
‘There is preliminary trial date set for May 5 next year with a time estimate of two weeks-plus.’
Since Watkins’ murder, more details have emerged about his time behind bars, including the singer’s reported use of other inmates as paid protection.
The Welsh musician had been serving 29 years for a string of child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby daughter
Watkins is said to have had his throat cut at the West Yorkshire jail after prisoners came out of their cells.
He is believed to have been living on a ‘general’ wing with some of Wakefield’s most dangerous inmates – as opposed to one dedicated to sex offenders.
A source has said ‘it was as if [Watkins] knew his time was up’.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed yesterday that Watkins had died after being ‘seriously assaulted’.
The force said: ‘Detectives have charged two men with murder after the death of a prisoner at HMP Wakefield on Saturday.
‘Ian Watkins, 48, was pronounced dead after being seriously assaulted at HMP Wakefield on Saturday morning.
‘Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, both of HMP Wakefield have both been charged with murder.’
In 2013, Watkins was given 14 and 15-year consecutive jail terms for engaging in sexual activity with a child and the attempted rape of an 11-month-old baby.
He was also convicted of 11 other offences at Cardiff Crown Court, with those sentences running alongside his 29-year term.
