Lamb Of God's Randy Blythe Indicted On Manslaughter Charges

Lamb Of God frontman Randy Blythe has been indicted on manslaughter charge in the Czech Republic, four months after being released from his initial almost five week stint in Czech prison.

Novinky.cz report that prosecutors now have three months to set a date for Blythe to go to trial or ask for further investigation to take place.

Upon his initial release from prison in early August, Blythe said that he fully intended to return to the country if necessary in order to clear his name.

“I'm no flight risk,” he said. “I'm an international touring artist; I have to clear my name. So, yes, I will come back here if I'm called to court.”

At a Lamb Of God concert in Prague during May of 2010, a number of revellers invaded the stage. It was at this point that Blythe is accused of pushing a 20-year-old man off the stage, the man later passing away as a result of the injuries sustained. Blythe was arrested in June 2010, when he returned to the city to play a show with his band and imprisoned until early-August.

In a statement issued in response to the indictment, Lamb Of God manager Larry Mazer says they believe there is sufficient evidence to prove that Blythe's reaction to the stage invasion was appropriate.

The full statement is as follows:

"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."

It is believed that, if convicted of manslaughter, Blythe could serve between five and ten years in prison.