Lostprophets Singer Ian Watkins to Stand Trial on Baby Rape Allegations
Ian Watkins, the lead singer of rock group Lostprophets, will stand trial in November accused of raping a baby and 22 other child sex offences.
The judge at Cardiff Crown Court set the trial date for 25 November. The trial is expected to last up to four weeks.
Watkins, 35, from Pontypridd, appeared at the hearing via video link from Parc prison in Bridgend.
The frontman pleaded not guilty to 23 sex offences involving children, including two charges of raping a baby, via video link at the same court on Monday.
Other offences include one count of sexual assault of the same child, encouraging or assisting a woman to sexually assault a baby, and conspiracy to rape a second baby.
Watkins is accused with two other female suspects aged 20 and 24 who cannot be named for legal reasons. Both denied charges of indecent assault against children.
Watkins also denied a 24<sup>th charge of possession of extreme animal pornography.
The charges are alleged to have taken place between March 2007 and December 2012
Judge Rees adjourned proceedings until 12 August for a case management hearing. All three suspects will remain in custody until then.
Lostprophets formed in 1997 and have sold more than 3.5 million albums worldwide.
The band's fifth album, Weapons, was released in 2012.
Following his arrest, the band said they were in a "state of shock".
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