members of Decapitated plead not guilty to rape charges

All four members of Polish metal band Decapitated have pled not guilty to kidnapping and rape charges, according to the Associated Press. Singer Rafal Piotrowski, guitarist Waclaw Kieltyka, drummer Mikola LLysejko and bassist Hubert Wiecek are currently being held on $100,000 bail each, and had the court proceedings explained to them by a Polish interpreter over speakerphone on Tuesday (10/24), after which they entered their pleas. The Associated Press reports:

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Annette Plese set trial for Dec. 18 but said it’s likely to be pushed back into the new year.

Attorney Jeffry Finer, who represents Piotrowski, said his client has no known criminal record in the United States or Poland. Finer said last week that the band has made numerous visits to the U.S. over the years with no criminal incidents.

Members of the band were charged with rape in addition to previous charges following an alleged incident after their August 31 concert at The Pin in Spokane, WA. Two women returned to the band’s tour bus with them following the show; one woman says she was raped by all four band members in the bus’s bathroom, while the other woman got away and was pulled over on suspicion of driving under the influence. Members of the band have denied the charges, saying “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.” in their most recent statement.