Rock star faces rap over snapper beating

If charges are pressed, the crime is punishable by three years in prison.

Gdansk police are trying to clarify the matter after an incident allegedly took place yesterday morning outside the singer's home in the Baltic city. The photographer in question had already filed a testimony, and a passing taxi-driver bore witness.

Nergal, born Adam Darski, has had run-ins with the law before. In February 2008, former MP and religious activist Ryszard Nowak brought charges against him, after the singer tore up a bible on stage. The case was eventually dropped.

A favourite of the tabloids, Nergal became seriously ill in 2010, and was diagnosed with leukaemia. Tracking down an appropriate match for a bone marrow transplant proved difficult, but a donor was eventually found.

“Paparazzi awaken in me a drive for real physical aggression,” he told political weekly Wprost some months ago.

“They are lucky that I'm still so damned weak,” he said.

Recent events indicate that the musician – who has a degree in history - is on the mend. Although Darski says that he has not played a guitar for over a year, the singer made a return to the stage earlier this month, performing a duet with British Goth veterans The Fields of the Nephilim.

Arriving at a Gdansk police station yesterday, the singer was unforthcoming about the alleged altercation.

“I don't know what you're talking about – goodbye,” he said.(nh)