Kelley Lynch convicted on violation of restraining order

[jazz4111]

Happy to get this topic back to the subject for which it was intended:
Kelley Lynch sentenced to 18 months in jail:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... cohen.html

[lizzytysh]

Reading a prepared statement, Cohen, 77, said he believed Lynch would resume contacting him once she was released from custody.

"It gives me no pleasure...to see my one-time friend shackled to a chair in a court of law," Cohen said.

Reading the first of this, I remain with a feeling of concern.
The second part of this is so true.

[jarkko]

We have attached two documents from the People v. Kelley Lynch criminal case brought in Los Angeles Superior Court.

http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/kelley1.pdf
This first document is Leonard's Victim Impact Statement he read in court on Tuesday before the judge sentenced Kelley Lynch to 18 months in prison and required her to undergo mental health counseling, attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and anger management classes.
TheWrap.com has covered the sentencing hearing and has posted LC's statement here: http://www.thewrap.com/music/article/le ... self-37091

http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/kelley2.pdf
The other attached document is the City Attorney's brief filed at Tuesday's sentencing hearing before Judge Vanderet. NOTE: the size of this pdf file is 9 MB, so it make take some time to open it.

"It is my prayer that Ms. Lynch will take refuge in the wisdom of her religion, that a spirit of understanding will convert her heart from hatred to remorse, from anger to kindness, from the deadly intoxication of revenge to the lowly practices of self-reform," Cohen said.

[Maulwurf]

"It is my prayer that Ms. Lynch will take refuge in the wisdom of her religion, that a spirit of understanding will convert her heart from hatred to remorse, from anger to kindness, from the deadly intoxication of revenge to the lowly practices of self-reform," Cohen said.

i don't think this was necessary.

if she does go for the revenge, those words will only make her feel even more humiliated and perhaps feed her anger.
i mean, it sounds merciful.
and i'm sure - if the psychological estimations about her are true and she just wanted to ruin him and get revenge for whatever - she doesn't want mercy from him.

[lizzytysh]

This statement is signature Leonard Cohen. Noble and taking the high road and imparting a sincere prayer for another's welfare. What he said was and remains true. Having been the victim for so long, it was not incumbent upon him to avoid any potential interpretation on her part of his words and their potential impact on her... or what she wants. She is the one who has been hard and cold as to her impact on him. This is the Victim Impact Statement. His statement was for the benefit of others to understand the impact on him and to include what he would wish for the perpetrator. It was very appropriate to write what he wrote. It showed compassion [which he has done right along for Kelley] and the lack of desire for revenge or retribution himself. It shows his sincere desire for her to become healed, and at the same time stressing that this is an internal issue with her and it must come from within.

It's not up to Kelley as to what she wants from Leonard. She violated that threshold many years ago in every possible way. This is about what Leonard wants now. For him to even show mercy is far more than many victims want, or that most people who have gone through all of this might even consider.

Kelley wasn't just a casual encounter... she was an integral part of Leonard's life and someone in whom he placed all trust. He was egregiously betrayed. This is tremendously painful emotionally and to the psyche when it happens... much less when it's followed up with repeated and overwhelming actions such as Kelley showed with Leonard. With regard to the fortune he lost, as a result of what she did, he has regained his fortune; yet even at the time that he learned this had happened, and he had no idea that he ever would or could regain any of it, he still showed compassion and a sense of caring for his longtime friend, as well as her parents.

Leonard was the one person who was the intended victim in this case [the rest in this case who suffered from the vitriol and overload of it all] were 'collateral damage' ~ it doesn't make their own feelings less valid, yet they truly were not the ones being directly targeted and feeling the full impact of it, not the least of which was someone once close was now wishing for his death. I remember how I felt when I first saw her email in my Inbox and read it... I felt like she was 'right here, right now' and it was very uncomfortable. I didn't know what to anticipate, as I knew hers were serial emails and there could well end up being more yet to come.

Having endured all that he has [and, believe me, even with what I received and know others have received, we have NO CLUE as to what LEONARD received and how that FELT to him], he has a right to wish for whatever he wants to wish for Kelley. The mercy he shows she ought to already know well, as she was in his company for many years. This is not new. It is not a condescending platitude put forth by a stranger. In reality, it reminds me of something Anne Frank might say, given what she did say; and what Corrie ten Boom said to the Nazi officer who killed her parents. This is the true spiritual path that Leonard has taken when he shared his sincere prayer for Kelley's ultimate welfare. His terms of description are so incredibly precise and accurate that [and I don't say this lightly] they could be a song. Leonard chose his words to capture all the nuances of what has gone before, what he personally knows of Kelley, from the past, as well as her current lack of remorse, and what he deeply wishes for her future.

Leonard Cohen could have taken many roads on this; he chose to take the high one, and his response is genuinely caring and beautiful. Kelley Lynch is fortunate to have had such a friend as Leonard and to have in him now. Leonard's response was one of a friend who has looked beyond the actions and the behaviour and is still looking at the person. Merciful and beautiful, Leonard.

[A.Sukitu]

...... this for info. plus to reassure that "Everybody Knows" :

Hello magazine number 1222, 23 April 2012, UK edition, has a small photo of Leonard's head, and on page 56, in DAYS: a round-up of news reports, states:

"
LEONARD COHEN
Ex-manager guilty of harassment

Leonard Cohen's ex-manager has been convicted of harassment. Kelley Lynch, 55, was found guilty of violating court orders banning her from contacting the 77-year old, who announced last week that he is going to play a one-off headline show in the UK in September. A court in LA heard that Kelly had left a string of "deranged and violent" emails and voice messages, which made the "Hallelujah" star's life "a living hell", according to his lawyer. The Canadian singer-songwriter cut off all contact with Kelley in 2004 after a brief relationship. A year later he sued her, alleging she had stolen millions of dollars. Leonard testified in court that he "wasn't willing to take the risk" of her turning up at his home. Kelley's lawyer Nikhil Ramnaney said her actions were "cries for help, not criminal conduct". She is due to be sentenced this week and faces up to five years in jail.
"

[wakeupmartin]

I liked what you just wrote lizzytysh. Leonard inspires me very much in his attitude to others.

[lizzytysh]

Thanks, wakeupmartin. Yes, I agree. Leonard does inspire me, as well, toward a higher level of personal interaction. If I were Leonard, I would do better; yet, being myself, I find myself on the growth path... he's surely had his own issues when it came to personal growth. He remains with his presence and his words to inspire us to always take the high road.

What Leonard wrote also makes clear the contrast in his and Kelley's states of mind, and with who was the mentally disturbed and the extremist; and who was the level-headed, reasonable, and balanced one. Leonard did all he could do in trying to deal with Kelley. After trusting her with his affairs, he took action only after she left him no choice, in suing her in the first place and in having charges pressed for her own violations the restraining order in the second place. If anyone is to be criticized for anything here, it is not Leonard.

[jazz4111]

It might also be pertinent to recall that the main reason Leonard was forced to sue KL in court was b/c the IRS had informed him that unless he could prove that his earnings were illegally diverted and he was never in possession of them, he would have to pay income tax on them. So not only was he left virtually broke, but unless embezzlement and fraud was proven (and it was), he would have a huge tax bill on top of a huge loss!

[Geoffrey]

she has been a right cow to leonard, one of the loveliest, most generous and kind-hearted people in the world. she is a nasty piece of work, truly horrible.

[iris]

As several times before and without going into this particular matter, still: Lizzytish I'm deeply moved by what you say, about Leonard and by doing so, about you. I know you are inspired by Leonard, but still, I think it is a true talent to give words, this words to matters of the heart, with compassion and a clear mind as well. Thanks, I thought this several times in the past years when I read youre messages, and well, life is short, its good to let you know this, once.

[jazz4111]

See there, Geoffrey, another matter on which we completely agree!

[lizzytysh]

Oh my gosh, jazz, I had completely forgotten that part. That certainly adds another layer to all of this. A very thick layer regarding their path to court in the first place. Potential massive damage on top of existing massive damage... and then threats and harassment on top of it all.

Thank you so much for your own kindness, iris. I appreciate so much what you've taken the time to say to me.
You're so right on how short is life. Thanks.

geoffrey ~ you are so demonstrative . It's no wonder Leonard loves you.
... and so right you are, as you know... "one of the loveliest, most generous and kind-hearted people in the world."

[Patrycja]

Given how her outbursts have escalated, it would be no surprise if she continued upon release. I don't know how these things work, but presumably she cannot do so from prison? Is there some sort of therapy for stalking? I didn't know anything about this situation before reading about it here on the forum, so the cumulative effect of getting all the details all at once leaves a decidedly creepy feeling. Wishing Leonard & family peace, protection and safety.

[LizzieMadder]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/ap ... ger-jailed
I'm delighted for Mr Cohen. I'm saddened by the downfall of Ms Lynch.