UPDATE: Blythe Trial Delayed, Vocalist to Return to the U.S.

UPDATE, 11:10 a.m.: According to WTVR, a key witness for the defense has fallen ill, and, as a result, the trial has been delayed until March 4, and Blythe will now return to the U.S. until that time. Original story follows below.

The third of Randy Blythe’s five-day trial for manslaughter has concluded, and reports of the day’s testimonies sound at least somewhat promising.

According to Czech news outlet Novinky.cz, Milan Poranek, the fan who appears to be getting choked by Blythe in this footage from the concert in question, testified on Blythe’s behalf, saying that Blythe restrained him, but did not choke him. Admitting he was drunk at the show, Poranek told the court, “Because the way I acted on stage, [Blythe] was right [to restrain me].” Another witness, possibly responding to yesterday’s accustations that Blythe was behaving in an “extremely aggressive” manner on stage, testified that “These bands are always trying to look angry on stage,” but Blythe’s behavior was never inappropriate.

Meanwhile, an employee from the club where the concert took place, Abaton, said that although the club knew an ambulance has been called, nobody knew why or for whom, and only later found out about the incident from the police.

Blythe’s trial is scheduled to continue tomorrow and conclude on Friday. More news as we get it. Meanwhile, you can read Blythe’s own comments on the ongoing drama here.

[via Metal Insider]