Three prisoners on murder charge after child killer found dead in cell

Three prisoners have appeared in court charged with murder after a child killer was found dead in his cell.

The Prison Service confirmed the man who died at Wakefield Prison was 33-year-old Kyle Bevan, who was jailed for life for murdering his partner’s two-year-old daughter, Lola James, in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in 2020.

Bevan was set to spend at least 28 years behind bars for the savage killing after inflicting catastrophic head injuries on the toddler during a six-hour attack.

Officers were called to the category A jail at 8.25am on Wednesday, West Yorkshire Police said.

Mark Fellows, 45; Lee Newell, 56; and David Taylor, 63; all white British men, appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court separately on Friday, by videolink.

They were remanded into custody and are due to appear again at Leeds Crown Court on Monday.

Each defendant wore a grey tracksuit and Fellows and Newell spoke only to confirm their names, dates of birth and that they understood what had taken place.

Taylor was asked if he understood and said: “Absolutely not. I’m innocent.”

Each of the three hearings took a little over a minute.

District Judge Charlotte Holland told each defendant they will be remanded in custody ahead of the pre-trial preparation hearing on Monday.

Lola James’s injuries were so severe they were likened by doctors to a high-speed car crash, with 101 scratches and bruises on her tiny body and evidence of weapons being used.

The girl’s death came months after Bevan, a prolific drug user, moved into the home within days of connecting with Lola’s mother Sinead James on Facebook.

Bevan, from Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, had denied murdering Lola but was convicted in 2023.

A Prison Service spokesperson said previously: “HMP Wakefield prisoner Kyle Bevan’s death was confirmed on November 5.

“We are unable to comment further while the police investigate.”

The incident comes less than a month after paedophile singer Ian Watkins was stabbed to death at the same prison.

Former Lostprophets frontman Watkins, 48, died from a stab wound to the neck at the prison, an inquest opening heard.

Inmates Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, have been charged with murdering him.

Two more men from the prison have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.