My husband was involved in an accident during a cycling race the other day. He spent the afternoon in A&E and has 8 stitches in his leg.
Everybody who was involved in the race and saw it happen said it wasn't his fault and there was nothing he could have done to avoid it. Even people who didn't see it happen said that he was at the front, so by the laws of physics had to have been taken out from behind - in which case how could it have been his fault..

Now, I know that sports come with dangers, and I expect my husband to have scars and scabs etc, but a rider who wasn't *in* the race, has come online posting on Facebook and cycling forums that he's seen photos of the race, my husband was to blame and he should be sued! This is ridiculous because a) nobody sues over bike races and b) nobody agrees with this other rider. He's only 19 and he's just being gobby but it's really getting to me.

Are there any important sounding phrases I can email to him about internet libel etc to make him shut up and remove his comments? I'm in the UK so would need references regarding British law. I wouldn't actually sue him because he's just a mouthy child, but he really needs to be scared into stopping spreading rumours across the internet (especially as nobody has *seen* these photos he claims are so incriminating other than him).

Any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers!

Hello K:

He's entitled to his opinion. He saw things one way. You saw them another. He has not libeled you or your husband. He has not lied. He has an opinion, and a forum to post it on. That's not illegal.

If you start threatening him, that MIGHT be illegal.

excon