BY STEPHEN H. COWLES/STAFF WRITER
Playback58@gmail.com

PRAGUE—The acquittal of a former Franklin resident and front man of the Richmond-based heavy metal band Lamb of God has been upheld by an appeals court in the Czech Republic. Larry Mazer, a member of the management team for Randy Blythe and Lamb of God, confirmed this to The Tidewater News today. Mazer added that Blythe would not be making any public comment on the issue.

Blythe had already been cleared on March 5 of causing a 19-year-old fan’s death during a 2010 concert at a club in Prague. Blythe had been accused of pushing the man from a stage. That person later died from pneumonia, which was reportedly caused by a brain stem injury.

Blythe, who was arrested in June and looking at 10 years in prison, lived on Barrett Street and attended S.P. Morton Elementary School, Hayden Middle School and Franklin High School before moving to Chesapeake. His father, Wayne Blythe of Chesapeake, attended the trial this past February.

During his trial, one man testified that the victim had repeatedly gotten on the stage that day, and that Blythe had to wrestle him to the floor. Another man said he didn’t see the accused do anything improper.

Blythe said he had no recollection of pushing the man from the stage.