All four members of Polish death-metal band Decapitated have pled not guilty after being charged with raping a woman on their tour bus in August, reports the Associated Press. The men – who are currently incarcerated in Spokane, Washington, at $100,000 bail apiece – entered their pleas in English this afternoon in a Spokane courthouse, where a Polish interpreter explained the legal proceedings to the group via speakerphone. Spokane County Superior Court Judge Annette Plese confirmed a December 18th trial date, but indicated that the band's time in court will likely be postponed until next year.
Today's court appearance comes just over a week after the four members of Decapitated were formally charged in connection with an alleged assault that took place in the early morning hours after their August 31st concert at Spokane venue the Pin. Court documents obtained by local media claim the group kidnapped and raped a woman on their tour bus outside the venue. Singer Rafal Piotrowski and guitarist Waclaw Kieltyka were charged with second degree rape, while drummer Mikola LLysejko and bassist Hubert Wiecek were charged with third degree rape. The band was originally arrested in California on September 9th on charges of first-degree kidnapping.
Decapitated have continously denied the charges through their lawyer, Steve Graham, most recently on October 13th. "Following extradition from California to Washington, the band has now been charged," their latest statement reads. "We'd like to emphasise; the Spokane Police Department has pressed charges as procedural formality, without doing so, they would be forced to release band – this is not a conviction or any indication of guilt or innocence.
"Once again, we ask that everyone wait for each party's case to be presented and await the court's decision. With that said, whilst cases are being prepared on both sides, some facts are indisputable at this point – that the original officer who took the complaint from the accuser stated, 'I do not have probable cause that a rape occurred,' and it's taken a full 30 days to file charges, which is right up against the point at which the defendants would legally have had to be released.
"The band firmly refutes the allegations and are confident that once the facts and evidence have been seen and heard, they will be released and able to return home. Individuals who were present on the night in question with information about the case are asked to reach out to the defense lawyer, Steve Graham of Spokane, Washington," it concludes.
