Rock singer on trial for child sex abuse

Rock singer Ian Watkins, formerly of the band Lostprophets, is set to go on trial for 24 charges, most of them relating to sexual assaults on children.

Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins is set to appear in a Wales court facing a string of charges involving the sexual assault of children.

The 36-year-old rock singer denies all 24 charges against him.

He appeared in Cardiff Crown Court on Monday - alongside two female co-defendants - where jury selection began.

The panel of 12 jurors is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday.

Once that process is complete, Chris Clee QC will open the case for the prosecution.

Judge Justice Royce has already warned that those who found themselves on the jury panel would have to watch some "very graphic material".

Watkins, from Pontypridd, is accused of two separate counts of raping a baby, as well as conspiracy to rape another child, one count of sexual assault, one of aiding and abetting sexual assault by penetration, and conspiracy to sexually assault a child.

He also faces 17 counts of making, taking and possessing indecent images, and one of possessing extreme pornographic image involving an animal.

Two women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also face sexual offence accusations as part of the case.

The three defendants, who will be standing trial together, face a total of 32 charges.

About 30 people are due to give evidence in the trial, including several police officers, forensic scientists and computer analysts.

The trial is expected to last around three weeks.

The remaining members of Lostprophets, who have sold around 3.5 million records, announced the band was splitting up last month.


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Source: AAP



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