RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – Randy Blythe spoke to reporters in the Czech Republic after his release, on bail, from prison Friday. In a video posted on Czech news website,Blythe said if he must return to Prague to face manslaughter charges in the 2010 death of a fan, he would do so.
“I’m no flight risk. 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,” Blythe said.
Blythe was detained when he and his band, Richmond-based Lamb of God, arrived in the Czech Republic for a concert in late June. Blythe said he was shocked to learn a fan had died after one of his concerts.
"It is very tragic that a young man died, I feel very bad that a fan of my band is dead, that his family has to go through it, it's terrible," Blythe said. "That concert was one of literally thousands I've played. I certainly did not know anyone was hurt. When I showed up in Prague I was very surprised to be arrested. We had no knowledge whatsoever that someone had been injured, much less died."
Blythe is accused of fatally injuring that fan after he allegedly threw him off the stage. Blythe spent five weeks in custody despite paying almost half a million dollars in bail. The Czech judicial system–vastly different from the U.S. system–kept Blythe imprisoned as bail was denied several times by the prosecutor.
"Prison is not exactly a fun place to be," Blythe said. "I had three meals a day, a roof over my head and clothes on my back. I try to be grateful for what I have instead of what I don't have. I read a lot, I wrote a lot, wrote some new songs and exercised in my cell."
Earlier Friday Lamb of God manager Larry Mazer told CBS 6 Blythe had been granted bail and was on his way home to Richmond.
