An Apology . . .

click to enlarge

Yesterday I received an interesting, possibly threatening, e-mail relating to something I wrote, in response to a comment, on March 23rd. Also, messages to my Facebook account telling me that the e-mail had been sent. Curiously, the e-mail was sent to two accounts I do not use, one being closed and the other able only to receive (not send) mail. The writer addresses me as “Mr Davies”! Whatever, let us examine the contents of the e-mail, reproduced on the right, click to enlarge.

The e-mail is from Malcolm Kinzett, father of ‘Rocking’ Rene Kinzett, former leader of the Conservative and Unionist faction on Swansea council. More specifically, my comment of March 23rd, and Kinzett pere‘s complaint, concerns his other son, Richard Kinzett, jailed for a serious assault on an off-duty copper outside the Uplands Tavern in Swansea.

The passage in question, written by me in response to ‘Macsen’, and as quoted by Malcolm Kinzett, reads: “Seeing as you may know him (‘Rocking’ Rene), Macsen, you probably remember the time his brother came to visit, and stabbed an off-duty copper in an Uplands pub. At the trial Rene swore his sibling was a saint, and that he (‘Rocking’ Rene, no less) would ensure the boy behaved himself if let off. At the end of the trial the brother’s previous was read out . . . a right thug, who was sent down for a long stretch”.

ReneTo which Malcolm Kinzett says: “The part underlined is libelous given that it is a published statement which defames two named individuals in a manner that causes a reasonable person to think worse of them. As you may know, a private individual must only prove negligence to collect compensatory damages, rather than malice. The “off duty policeman” you refer to was not stabbed and René never spoke for his brother like you have stated in the trial at Swansea Crown Court. Indeed, he only spoke the once at the Magistrates Court during the bail hearing and NOT at the trial and all he said then was that he would be letting Richard stay with him at his house whilst on bail. I would ask you to please prove to me that René Kinzett swore his sibling was a saint and that his brother would behave himself if let off. The statements attesting to this in your blog comment are all completely untrue but as you have stated it as true to anyone who reads your blog, you have defamed the two named”.

After reading that I now realise I was wrong in what I wrote. A number of corrections are required. The attack took place outside the pub, after Richard Kinzett had been ejected. ‘Rocking’ Rene spoke up for his brother at the magistrates court hearing, not at the Crown Court trial. I said Kinzett was sent down “for a long stretch”, maybe I should have made it clear that he was actually sentenced to life. The father also claims that his son did not stab the off-duty policeman. According to the Evening Post (March 23, 2005), “He used a knife to wound an off-duty police officer in the face”. Which I suppose could mean that it was not technically a stab wound, maybe a slash. Even so, we’re splitting hairs here. Which leaves only the bit about “Rene swore his sibling was a saint”. I’m prepared to accept that he didn’t use the word ‘saint’, but he would obviously have painted a good picture of his brother in order to get him bail. I therefore retract the bit about ‘Rocking’ Rene describing his brother as a saint “to get him off”. And, er, that’s the extent of my apology. Now it’s my turn.

Malcolm – don’t mind if I call you Malcolm, do you? – I’m a father myself (and a grandfather), so I understand that the fruits of our loins don’t always live up to our expectations. In your case, you’ve had a real bum deal; the lesser disappointment is a knife-wielding thug while the real heart-breaker must be the one who belongs to the same party as Cameron and Osborne. Words are not enough to convey my sympathy. Though, of course, these facts make an absolute bollocks of your suggestion that I have “defamed” either of them! So let’s move on from your groundless and rather silly complaint.

I made fair comment in a public forum to which you could have contributed. Instead, you chose to make enquiries about me and then made a ludicrous threat of legal action. At least, I’m hoping it was a threat of legal action. For some might interpret “I will have no choice but to act upon it” and “I will act, you can be sure of that”, as threats against my person, given your son’s record, and the fact that these statements were made in private correspondence.

I have considered your complaint and given my response. The matter is at an end. I want no further contact with you or your family. Though if you pursue this issue, or seek to defame me in other fora, then I shall reconsider my options.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

17 Comments
Newest
Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Anonymous

I need an email address from you please

The Red Flag

I’ve copied your post. Should you end up being Injuncted to remove it I shall make it my life cause to reproduce it on as many Welsh blogs that I can find.

Big Gee

I like that very much! Nice to see a bit of snarl, if we all had that attitude then things would change quite rapidly. Trouble with Welsh warriors is they’re good at rattling the ironwork in the scabbard but f****** useless at using it. We need more bloody minded ones like you RF.

Don’t worry about Jac’s blog content – it’s in safe hands now – since he got scalded by Google Blogger! Be that a lesson to all those of you who’ve also put your balls in their fist.

T.O.Davies .Property a control mechanism.

NO ASSETS, NO FEAR. Mr kinzett Fuck you and your bunch of fuckups.

Jac

An interesting thought, T. O. Davies, but if taken ad absurdum it would mean that only the destitute could afford to voice opinions.

T.O.Davies

Learnt years ago that assets in my name were being used as leverage to my compliance. Gave them all away on paper years ago.

Anonymous

I need an email address for you please

Col. JP Stute Æ æ Ö (Mrs)

Hi Chris,
The original article was about the Labour leader of Swansea Council removing some archaic letters after his name.

Jac

Good man, yerself, Corrigan. But I wouldn’t buy Big Gee a drink; he gets stroppy after a drink or two. Buy me one instead.

chris from cardiff

My sympathies to Mr M Kinzett, but the inaccuracies complained about do not appear to materially affect the issues described in the original article. Jac o’ the North’s reputation needs no bolstering from me, but if he should ever need a character reference of his own for any reason, then I’d be happy to provide a very strong one. His journalism is high class.

cofion, Chris Corrigan

PS I haven’t previously encountered ‘Big Gee’ – see above – but agree totally with his comments. Indeed should I ever get the opportunity I will buy him a large drink, even in the Uplands Tavern if need be.

Big Gee

Thank you for your kind words Chris. Don’t listen to Jac – he knows full well that I was born stroppy and the odd drink mellows me no end! I keep on telling him it’s not the drink that causes the aggression but being born with the “warrior gene” – I’m from a long line of aggressive Cardis, but he won’t listen! Instead, his Swansea Jac genes compulsively drive him to opportunism, like diverting other people’s free drink to his glass. Now to a dyed in the wool Cardi, that’s tantamount to an attack on the person with a lump hammer!

Macsen

Letters that be a lesson to you.
I have never met Mr Kinzett and I have no wish to meet him.
Ever wondered why the RSA have Fellows but no Associates?

I’m deeply concerned about the accusations that you worked in the 3rd sector.

Jac

An unfounded calumny, I assure you. I was involved for many years with a local project in receipt of public funding, but it was a local venture that still provides work for local people and facilities for the whole community. Definitely not Third Sector.

Big Gee

10/10 Jac. Well analysed, well conveyed. Not a bad conclusion really – considering that we can now all rest assured in our beds that at least Richard Kinzett, with his criminal record, (should he have wished) will not be able to stand in any future elections, like his brother, to aid and abett Cameron, Osborne and Co. That is, should the Tories EVER again (God forbid ) get their hands on power to rob the poor in the future – assuming there will be any poor left after the famine during this regime! But I suppose the posh boy millionaires will need some kept alive for slave purposes.