Posts Tagged ‘blythe’

Randy Blythe Trial, Day 4: Witness Testifies in Favor of Lamb of God Frontman

Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com As reported, it was announced yesterday (Feb. 6) that Randy Blythe ‘s manslaughter trial in the Czech Republic would be adjourned until March 4 to accommodate a witness who is currently ill. However, it was also revealed that there would be one more witness set to testify today (Feb. 7) before the one-month break. During a session that only lasted 45 minutes, the latest witness spoke in defense of the Lamb of God frontman. According to the TV station WTVR in Richmond, Va., the witness, Lukas Havlena, who attended the 2010 concert in which Daniel Nosek allegedly suffered a fatal head injury, told the court that he contacted Blythe’s defense team this week after reading about damaging testimony against the vocalist that took place on Day 2 of the trial Tuesday. Havlena refutes accounts by the prosecution’s witnesses that Blythe was very aggressive during the concert. He said Blythe was not aggressive at all and, moreover, he was very clear to fans during the gig that they were not allowed onstage. Also today, the judge explained that it was not only the sick witness that led to the delay of the trial. He revealed that there is also testimony expected by two criminal psychologists who were unable to attend the proceedings this week, as well as additional witness. It is expected that all of them will take the stand when the trial resumes on March 4. Blythe is expected to return to his hometown of Richmond, Va., this week before returning to the Czech Republic in March for the trial’s resumption. Lamb of God are nominated in the Best Metal / Hard Rock Performance category at this Sunday’s Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. It is not known whether the band will attend the ceremony. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/tags/randy-blythe” title=”See All the Recent Randy Blythe Updates Here” align=”center”] ?

LAMB OF GOD Frontman Randy Blythe Comments On Ongoing Czech Trial

Randy Blythe is currently on trial in the Czech Republic on charges of manslaughter stemming from a 2010 concert in Prague. You can read our reports from day 1 and day 2 of the trial so far. The main coverage of the story is coming from Czech newsletters, and my reports on this site have … The post LAMB OF GOD Frontman Randy Blythe Comments On Ongoing Czech Trial appeared first on Metal Injection .

Lamb of God Vocalist Randy Blythe’s Manslaughter Trial Begins in Czech Republic

Instagram: drandallblythe Randy Blythe has traveled back to the Czech Republic, where his trial on manslaughter charges began today (Feb. 4). Before entering the courtroom, the Lamb of God vocalist posted a photo of himself in a suit and tie (seen to the left), with a message to his fans: “And so it begins,” wrote Blythe on Instagram . “I am calm & prepared. Everyone, thanks for your good thoughts and prayers. Have a nice day, y’all!” As widely reported, Blythe was arrested this past summer on charges of manslaughter stemming from the 2010 death of a 19-year-old man named Daniel, who passed away a few weeks after allegedly being tossed from the stage at a Lamb of God show. Daniel’s family is seeking $530,000 U.S. dollars for the loss of their son, while Blythe also faces 5 to 10 years in prison if convicted. According to The Gauntlet , at the Prague City Court today, Blythe stated, “I’ve kept my word. I said that I would come back to court today and I did. I do not shy away from responsibility. I’m not a person who runs away from problems. But I do not want to be punished for something I did not do. The fan’s death breaks my heart. I never saw Daniel and I never came in contact with him.” The trial, which is expected to run from today through Friday, Feb. 8, began with both sides presenting their cases. In a rough translation from the Czech news site Cesky Rozhlas , the prosecution claimed that Blythe pushed Daniel with great force to the point that he fell off the stage over a metal barrier and hit his head on the ground. The prosecutor went on to explain that the young man hit the back and lower part of his brain, suffering internal bleeding. Blythe testified that the security at the club was insufficient and that several fans tried to rush the stage. As mentioned above, the Gauntlet reports that Blythe insisted he never saw Daniel or came into contact with him. According to WTVR , Lamb of God’s drummer Chris Adler and manager Larry Mazer testified on Blythe’s behalf, praising his character and calling him a quiet person despite his onstage persona. Tomorrow’s proceedings are expected to include testimony from 12 witnesses who attended the 2010 concert. We will update this story as news breaks. Check back with Loudwire for the latest on Randy Blythe’s ongoing trial in the Czech Republic. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/tags/randy-blythe/” title=”See More of the Latest News on Randy Blythe” align=”center”]

Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe ‘Getting Ready Mentally’ for Czech Republic Trial

Liz Ramanand, Loudwire One month ago, Lamb of God vocalist Randy Blythe was handed the reality of a court date in the Czech Republic. Facing manslaughter charges in an incredibly controversial case stemming from a 2010 concert incident, Blythe’s legal proceedings are set to begin on Feb. 4 . With the proverbial hourglass drawing closer to an empty top, Blythe recently posted a poetic and introspective piece of writing on his Instagram account detailing his thoughts. Although Randy Blythe could conceivably remain in the United States to avoid his trial, the vocalist has chosen to face the Prague 8 District Court and fight the charges brought against him. Blythe, who spent five weeks in a Czech prison over the summer while awaiting his bail to be approves, had given his situation a great deal of thought over the past few months. Upon discovering an old suitcase while out and about in his hometown of Richmond, Va., Blythe was inspired to write about his upcoming trial in the Czech Republic: The last 2 or 3 days I have been getting ready mentally to leave my home & return to Prague to do this whole trial thing in early February. It’s not something I particularly WANT to do; but inside, my gut & heart tells me it is the RIGHT thing to do. I cannot turn my back [on] the right thing. As I’ve been thinking, I’ve [been] shooting [pictures] a lot around my hometown. I love this place. A couple of days ago I went to my mechanic to get my truck worked on- the garage is over near the CSX train yard here in Richmond. I dropped off my truck & went creeping under the over pass that runs above the tracks. As usual, there was a lot of sleeping gear, trash, old mattresses & stuff that homeless people keep there. In my younger days, I used to ride freight trains across our country. I have spent many nights under bridges just like this one in freight yards across the USA. I have always loved to travel, & have been across the USA three times without a dime in my pocket most of the time, learning the survival skills of the hobos & street people of our country. You can get by with almost nothing if you know what you are doing. This old suit case sitting up on this ledge really captured my attention. I wonder what it once held? Safe travels to whoever owns it… As mentioned, Randy Blythe’s trial is scheduled to commence on Feb. 4. In addition to the aforementioned suitcase, the Lamb of God frontman has posted a number of his photos on his Instagram account recently, including recent images of his Virginia hometown and his travels in New York City, as well as vintage pictures of him posing with the late Dimebag Darrell. Check them out here . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/2013-grammy-awards-best-hard-rock-metal-performance-nominees-anthrax-halestorm-iron-maiden-lamb-of-god-marilyn-manson-megadeth/” title=”Lamb of God Nominated for 2013 Grammy Award” align=”center”]

Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe Receives Date for Czech Manslaughter Trial

Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com Two weeks ago, we reported that Lamb of God vocalist Randy Blythe was officially indicted on manslaughter charges in the Czech Republic. It is now being reported that Blythe will stand trial for the controversial charges on Feb. 4, 2013. Upon being indicted, the Prague 8 District Court had two decisions they could have made. The court had three months to either delay the trial in order to continue the collection of evidence, or set an official date. That decision has now been made and Blythe will begin legal proceedings on Feb. 4. “We have issued Randy Blythe with a court summons, and he is obliged to attend the hearing in person,” said court spokeswoman Martina Lhotáková  [ via Prague Post ]. “The trial will determine the culpability of Blythe and his potential punishment.” Blythe has stated that although he could easily hide out in the United States to avoid court proceedings, he will cooperate with the Czech legal system. The vocalist was jailed for over a month earlier this year on accusations of manslaughter after a fan died from head injuries supposedly sustained at a Lamb of God show in 2010. “I want my name cleared,” Blythe stated in a recent interview . “I have to go around the world and tour, you know? That’s what I do. I’m not going to hide here. I’m an innocent man. I’m going to go to court and see what happens.” According to Lhotáková, Blythe’s Czech trial is expected to last four days. Although the date has officially been set, the court still has the option of sending the case back to the prosecutor and police for further investigation. Stay tuned for more news as it breaks. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/lamb-of-god-manager-responds-randy-blythe-czech-republic-indictment/” title=”Next: Lamb of God’s Manager Responds to Randy Blythe’s Indictment” align=”center”]

Fan-Generated Randy Blythe Online Petition Receives U.S. Department of State Response

Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com The U.S. government may not have been forthcoming with information to Randy Blythe before the Lamb of God singer traveled to the Czech Republic and found himself serving a jail stint over the summer, but they’re definitely keeping an eye on his alleged manslaughter case now. A Lamb of God fan from Brandenburg, Ky. was responsible for creating a petition on the White House website asking for the government’s help as the singer prepares to head back to the Czech Republic to answer to the charges. The vocalist was arrested this past summer when the band returned to play a show in Prague. Local officials claimed that Blythe was involved in tossing an audience member from the stage and that the man in question later died from an injury sustained when he hit the ground. The petition garnered 29,000 signatures over a 30-day period, which is 4,000 more signatures than necessary for it to receive the requisite attention. Michael Posner, the Assistant Secretary of State of Democracy for Human Rights and Labor, drafted a statement on the Randy Blythe matter. It reads as follows: We appreciate your inquiry about the case of D. Randall Blythe, who was released from detention in the Czech Republic on August 3, 2012, and returned to the United States shortly thereafter. Mr. Blythe has publicly stated his intention to return to the Czech Republic to face trial for the alleged manslaughter of a Czech man at a concert in 2010. He recently told MTV, ‘It’s the correct thing for me to do … this poor young man’s family deserves some answers.’ Pending Mr. Blythe’s trial, we cannot discuss the details of his case. We are closely monitoring the progress of his trial. The Department Of State noted in its 2011 Human Rights Report that in the Czech Republic, ‘The laws provide for the right to a fair trial, and the independent judiciary generally enforced this right.’ We expect that the Czech government will make all efforts to ensure a fair, transparent, and timely trial for Mr. Blythe, and guarantee full protection of his legal rights under Czech law and his welfare. If you would like to know more about what the Department of State does for U.S. citizens overseas, please visit our website at Travel.State.Gov. General information on U.S. human rights policy is available at HumanRights.gov. On Nov. 30, the Czech state attorney filed criminal charges against Blythe after reading the case file presented to him about the investigation. The Prague court has three months to set a trial date. Blythe, who already served a 37-day stint behind bars this summer, could face a long-term sentence if convicted. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-lamb-of-god-songs/” title=”Next: 10 Best Lamb of God Songs” align=”center”]

Lamb of God Manager Responds to Randy Blythe’s Czech Republic Indictment

Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Earlier today, news broke from the Czech Republic that Lamb of God vocalist Randy Blythe has been officially indicted for the charge of manslaughter. Now, an update has come from the Lamb of God camp, who have issued a statement on the case’s most recent development. This latest development begins a new chapter of Blythe’s controversial case, and the indictment means that the District Court of ‘Prague 8′ has three months to either set a trial date for Blythe, or postpone the decision for the sake of continuing the ongoing investigation. Lamb of God manager Larry Mazer has responded to the indictment with a new statement. Mazer states: After a three month investigation, the prosecutor in the Czech Republic has decided to move forward with an indictment of Randy Blythe on the charge of manslaughter with intent to cause bodily harm. Obviously, we intend to fight vigorously against these charges as we feel that in no way did Randy intend to cause bodily harm on the young fan who subsequently died from injuries sustained at the show.  As he has stated previously, Randy intends to go to Prague to defend himself at trial. While it is a tragedy that a Lamb of God fan died following a performance by the group, in no way do I feel that Randy did anything improper that led to the young man’s injuries and subsequent death.  The price of a ticket to a show does not entitle audience members access to a band’s stage.  In the years since the murder on stage of Dimebag Darrell Abbott, performers of all genres have had to become more guarded while performing in response to the dangers presented by fans trying to become part of the performance.  We believe that Randy responded professionally to the numerous amount of fans rushing the stage that day, a number of them captured on videos that have been posted on the internet. We have testimony from the venue operator that acknowledges lax security and an improper barricade being used that evening. Numerous testimonies from fans also were contradictory as to the actions of the multiple fans that tried to access the stage. At this point, all that the band, myself, and our lawyers can do is to present a defense and try to convince the panel of judges who will hear the case that Randy is innocent of all charges and that his name and reputation need to be cleared and that he be permitted to carry on with his life and career always mindful that a fan passed away after a Lamb of God performance. Stay tuned for more on the Randy Blythe case as news breaks. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/lamb-of-god-randy-blythe-indicted-manslaughter-charges-czech-republic/” title=”Randy Blythe Officially Indicted by Czech Republic for Manslaughter Charges” align=”center”]