Lamb of God singer Randy Blythe has released a statement, following Tuesday’s news that he had been acquitted of all responsibility for the death of a fan in 2010.
As previously reported, last June saw Blythe detained on manslaughter charges in the Czech Republic whilst on tour with the Virginia metal band. The arrest related to an incident at a Lamb Of God show in May 2010 in Prague: Blythe was alleged to have engaged in a fracas with a 19-year-old stage invader, pushing the fan from the stage and causing injuries which resulted in his death. Blythe was denied bail, Lamb Of God’s tour was brought to a halt, and the singer spent a month in custody before returning back to the States. Following a high-profile whip-around to cover his legal fees, Blythe returned to Prague to stand trial last month.
A Prague court found Blythe not guilty just after noon on Tuesday; until now Blythe had yet to officially comment on the ruling. His statement reads thus:
“I am leaving Prague now- I hope not to return for a long while. This has nothing to do with this city, the people who live here, or the Czech Republic itself at all. This is a wonderful place, & many people have been kind to me. Not a single soul here has been rude or mean to me at all, nor done me any harm- in fact it is quite the opposite. I have grown to love this city, for it is a marvelous, magical town. I encourage everyone to come visit here, to see this lovely country. But for me it is a place of great sadness. While I am relieved that my innocence was proven & apparently I shall not be going to prison, I am in no way shape or form a happy man right now. The small inconveniences I have been through since my arrest are not noteworthy. People go through much worse daily & still keep a smile on their faces, but currently my smiles are far & few between. A young man is still dead, & his family still suffers. Please remember that fact. This family did no wrong, & have shown me great kindness- with silence, with actions, & finally with words- they spoke on my behalf to the court, & we had a private talk afterwards. All I will say about that is that they were very kind to me & displayed the utmost strength & class, & wished me a good life. They just want to get on with their lives the best they can. I wish them only the best, & will keep them in my thoughts & prayers. Please do the same- think good thoughts of them & healing thoughts for them. Trust me, they are good people, & I mean that from the bottom of my heart. They did NOTHING wrong. This picture is from Kutna Hora, at the Sedlec Ossuary. I was there yesterday- like Prague, it is an amazing place. About this city, Kafka wrote: “Prague doesn’t let go…This old crone has claws. One has to yield, or else.” I have found this to be true. I am yielding, I am leaving a part of myself here, I think. Some bit of me will always roam these streets at night, & that is only fitting. Now I will go home & try to see what good I can make come out the destruction that occurred here- it is the only correct thing to do. Rest in peace, Daniel Nosek.”
Blythe’s last detailed statement on the trial came in August of last year, when the singer emphasised that “while I consider the charge leveled against me ludicrous and without qualification, my opinion makes no difference in this matter. The charge exists, and for the family of this young man, questions remain. The worst possible pain remains.”
“It is fairly common knowledge amongst fans of my band”, Blythe continued, “that I once lost a child as well. I, unfortunately, am intimately familiar with what their pain is like. Therefore, I know all too well that in their time of grief, this family needs and deserves some real answers, not a media explosion followed by the accused killer of their son hiding like a coward thousands of miles away while they suffer.”
