Photo: Facebook

Polish death metal band Decapitated have issued a statement after they were formally charged with rape. As previously reported on Gigwise, the band had been arrested in Santa Ana, California, on suspicion of kidnapping following their gig at Spokane, Washington.

The incident is alleged to have taken place on August 31. The band were arrested on September 9. The band were held at a Los Angeles jail and have recently been extradited to Spokane where they were charged with kidnapping in the first-degree. The Spokesman-Review reports that Michal Lysejko, Waclaw Kietlyka, Rafal Piotrowski and Hubert Wiecek have now been formally charged with rape.

Piotrowski and Kieltyka have been charged with second-degree rape, while Lysejko and Wiecek face a third-degree charge.

Posting on Facebook, Decapitated said: “Following extradition from California to Washington, the band has now been charged. We’d like to emphasise: the Spokane Police Department has pressed charges as procedural formality, without doing so, they would be forced to release the 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.’

“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 defence lawyer, Steve Graham of Spokane, Washington.”