Three in court over child killer's death in prison

Kyle Bevan was jailed for murdering two-year-old Lola James in 2020

Three men have appeared in court charged with murder over the death of a child killer in a West Yorkshire prison.

Kyle Bevan, 33, was found dead in his cell at HMP Wakefield on Wednesday.

He had been jailed for life for murdering his partner's two-year-old daughter Lola James in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in 2020.

Mark Fellows, 45, Lee Newell, 56 and David Taylor, 63, all of HMP Wakefield, appeared before magistrates in Leeds earlier via video link and were remanded into custody. No pleas were entered and they will next appear at Leeds Crown Court on 10 November.

Officers were called to the category A HMP Wakefield at 08:25 GMT on Wednesday, a force spokesperson said.

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

"We are unable to comment further while the police investigate."

Lola James was found with more than 100 injuries after being left in Bevan's care

Bevan, from Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, had inflicted "catastrophic" brain injuries on the toddler in a "brutal" assault in her family home, his sentencing hearing in 2023 was told.

Lola was attacked on the night between 16 and 17 July 2020 while she was in Bevan's care, and was left with 101 surface injuries on her body.

The judge, Mr Justice Martin Griffiths, described Bevan's actions as "an assertion of superiority over the only person he could feel superior to – a helpless child".

Bevan was ordered to serve at least 28 years in jail.

Sinead James, Lola's mother, was sentenced to six years for causing or allowing her daughter's death at her home.

The incident comes less than a month after the death of paedophile singer Ian Watkins at the high-security jail

Bevan's death 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.

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

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