Former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was murdered today (Oct. 11) at HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England, where he was serving a 29-year-sentence for sex offenses. Watkins, who was 48, had been in jail for the past 12 years on 13 horrific charges involving children and animals.
According to West Yorkshire Police, Watkins was attacked with a knife by a person or persons unknown and was pronounced dead at the scene. In 2023, he suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being stabbed and taken hostage by three of his fellow prisoners in an incident that took authorities six hours to resolve.
Welsh rock outfit Lostprophets, which had massive U.K. albums in 2004 with Start Something and two years later with Liberation Transmission, immediately broke up in the wake of Watkins’ original conviction.
“Those who have appeared in these courts over many years see a large number of horrific cases,” said the Hon. Mr Justice John Royce at his sentencing. “This case, however, breaks new ground. I am satisfied that you are a deeply corrupting influence, you are highly manipulative, you are a sexual predator, you are dangerous. The public and, in particular, young females need protection from you.”
Following Watkins’ arrest, the non-singing members of Lostprophets formed the band No Devotion with Thursday frontman Geoff Rickly.
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