Bail set at $100K for 2 Polish band members in rape case

SPOKANE, Wash. — The final two members of the Polish metal band Decapitated had bail set at $100,000 each Friday on rape and kidnapping charges after they were arrested for the gang-rape of a woman on their tour bus following a show last summer.

Rafal Piotrowski, 31, and Hubert Wiecek, 30, made their initial appearance before Superior Court Judge John Cooney, who set the bail, ordered them to surrender their passports and ordered them to stay away from the victim, among other conditions.

Cooney set a date next Tuesday for all four defendants in the case to be arraigned.

Authorities contend that the four members of the band raped a woman on their bus following an Aug. 31 show in Spokane, Washington, which is about 270 miles east of Seattle.

The other two defendants, Waclaw Kieltyka, 35, and Michal Lysejko, 31, appeared in court earlier in October. Their bail was also set at $100,000 each, they were ordered to surrender their passports, and they remain in the Spokane County Jail.

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The four were arrested in Los Angeles in September and extradited to Washington to face the charges.

Attorney Jeffry Finer, who represents lead singer Piotrowski, said the band members have no criminal history, a long record of gainful employment and some members have advanced education degrees.

“They have made plenty of visits to the United States without any incidents here,” Finer said, adding that he intends to pursue bail for his client in coming weeks.

In a statement recently posted on social media, the band said the allegations were false and that they were confident “that once the facts and evidence have been seen and heard, they will be released and able to return home.”

Two women told police they were invited onto the band’s tour bus after the show. One woman said that, after talking with band members, she went into a bathroom on the bus. She was grabbed and spun around, to where she was facing the sink and mirror, court documents said. She was raped by each of the members of the band, the documents said.

The other woman told police she was able to escape after kicking one of the band members in the groin, documents said.

Lawyers for band members have said they have witnesses who can dispute the accounts given by the two women.

On Friday, court activities proceeded with the help of a registered Polish interpreter, who worked over a speakerphone.

But the two band members, dressed in yellow jumpsuits, were able to answer questions from the judge in English.

“I don’t have any questions,” Wiecek told the judge at one point.

Cooney said the bail and other conditions placed on band members were appropriate.

“There’s a lack of ties to the community and the potential for future violent offences,” the judge said.

If released on bail, band members would also have to remain in Spokane County, have no contact with co-defendants and commit no additional crimes, the judge said.

Nicholas K. Geranios, The Associated Press