Serge Gainsbourg impersonator on trial for stabbing Johnny Hallyday impersonator

In one of the more surreal cases to come before the French courts, an impersonator of the late Serge Gainsbourg went on trial Friday for stabbing a rival who specialises in mimicking veteran rocker Johnny Hallyday.

Denis Colnot, a 48-year-old fan of iconic singer-songwriter Gainsbourg, faces a lengthy prison term after being charged with the attack on his Johnny-loving neighbour that was allegedly triggered by a long-running feud over the quality of their respective acts.

Artistic differences came to a head in July 2011 when 'Gainsbourg' decided he could no longer tolerate his rival's mockery and attacked 'Johnny' with a kitchen knife, stabbing him in the neck.

Johnny, identified as Michel P. in court, survived and made a full recovery. He described his neighbour as a "cabbage head" driven by jealousy born of constantly losing to him in impersonation contests.

The judge is due to deliver his verdict on Monday.

[Image of Johnny Hallyday via Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com]