LONDON – In northern England, British authorities have detained two men suspected of murdering Ian Watkins, the former lead singer of Lostprophets. Watkins was fatally stabbed at a prison where he was serving a 29-year sentence for offenses related to child sexual abuse.
Emergency responders were dispatched to HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire on Saturday morning following an incident where the 48-year-old Watkins was attacked with a knife. He succumbed to his injuries at the location.
A murder investigation is underway following the arrests of two men, aged 25 and 43, West Yorkshire Police said in a statement.
Back in 2013, Watkins admitted to 13 charges, which included attempted rape of an infant, inappropriate touching of a one-year-old, persuading a fan to harm her child, and producing child pornography.
During his sentencing, Judge John Royce characterized Watkins as a manipulative and perilous sexual predator who exploited his celebrity status to fulfill his “insatiable lust.”
Judge Royce remarked at the Cardiff Crown Court hearing, “Those who have long been part of this judicial system encounter numerous dreadful cases. Yet, this one sets a new precedent.”
Watkins was the frontman for Lostprophets, a Welsh rock group that reached the pinnacle of the U.K. charts in 2006 with its third album, “Liberation Transmission.” The band decided to break up following Watkins’ legal troubles.
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