A judge in Scotland has determined a man in custody is a suspect U.S. authorities had been searching for in a sexual assault case.
Sheriff Norman McFadyen, an Edinburgh judge, ruled on Friday that Nicholas Rossi, 35, is the alleged fugitive on the run from the U.S.
Rossi is accused of rapinga 21-year-old Utah woman back in 2008, according to talk radio station Leading Britain’s Conversation. He allegedly ran from the U.S. to Scotland and began using the alias Arthur Knight.
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He said an NHS employee named “Patrick” took his fingerprints to help the U.S. in its alleged attempt to frame him, per the outlet.
However, in his ruling, McFadyen saidRossi’s claims were “implausible"and “fanciful,” per the BBC.
Rossi’s wife, Miranda Knight, testified that her husband never appeared to be Rossi. His name is Nicholas Brown on their marriage certificate, according to BBC.
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Rossi has had six lawyers throughout his legal battle, per BBC, and it is not clear who currently represents him and can comment on his behalf.
BBC reported that prosecutors in the U.S. issued multiple extradition requests concerning two sexual assault allegations against Rossi. He was first convicted of sexually assaulting a woman named Mary in 2008 after they met online.
“He is trying to fool everybody and I’m glad so many people see through it,” she previously told BBC.
Rhode Islandofficials have been looking for Alahverdianafter he failed to register as a sex offender. Federal agents also say fraud charges are pending against him in Ohio, which is where he was convicted of the 2008 rape charge, per AP.
Alahverdian alleged in early 2020 that he was battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma and would be dying within weeks. There was an obituary posted on Feb. 29, 2020, in his honor; however, in 2021, Alahverdian’s foster family, Rhode Island state police and Alahverdian’s previous lawyer made it clear they weren’t convinced he was dead, AP added.
Rossi’s extradition hearing is set to start in March 2023, AP reported. In the meantime, he was denied bail as McFadyen deemed him a flight risk.
source: people.com
