Nicholas Rossi CAN be extradited from Scotland to face rape charges in US after judges refused his appeal as he continues to insist he is victim of mistaken identity
Nicholas Rossi could be extradited from Scotland to face serious sex charges, including rape, in the US after judges rejected his appeal.
Scottish ministers signed an order in September authorizing the extradition of Nicholas Rossi, 36, after a lengthy case in the Scottish courts.
Rossi, who is charged over the alleged rape of a 21-year-old in Utah in 2008, has appealed the extradition order which was heard in Edinburgh last week.
However, in a decision published on Thursday, the judges dismissed the appeal, concluding that “none of the appellant's arguments are well founded.”
Rossi initially came to the attention of authorities after he fell ill with Covid-19 and was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in December 2021.
Rossi is accused of raping a 21-year-old boy in Utah in 2008
Nicholas Rossi could be extradited from Scotland to face serious sex charges, including rape, in the US after judges rejected his appeal
He appealed against an extradition order, which was signed by Scottish ministers at the High Court earlier this year and was heard in Edinburgh on Thursday.
Despite a sheriff's pronouncement that he is Rossi, he claims he is a victim of mistaken identity and is an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight.
Judges previously rejected the fugitive rape suspect's moves to delay his extradition to the United States to give him more time to challenge the order.
Rossi represented himself in court last week and filed a number of preliminary motions, including one calling for an extension of his appeal deadline to give him more time to present new evidence.
He also requested to be granted bail and for the court to impose restrictions on media coverage of his case.
Rossi initially came to the attention of authorities after he fell ill with Covid-19 and was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in December 2021.
Despite a sheriff's pronouncement that he is Rossi, he claims he is a victim of mistaken identity and is an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight.
Scottish ministers signed an order in September authorizing Rossi (pictured) to be extradited to the US to face charges, following a lengthy extradition case in the Scottish courts
Rossi argued again in court on Thursday that there was a case of mistaken identity and objected to lawyers calling him by that name, prompting a rebuke from Lady Dorrian.
She reminded Rossi that his identity had already been established during previous court proceedings and emphasized that this is the name she will use to address him during the appeal hearing.
Lady Dorrian, who sat alongside Lord Malcolm and Lord Armstrong, also rejected each of Rossi's interim applications, stating that it is not the place of the High Court to hear new evidence in the case nor is it in a position to grant bail to know.
Asked for evidence to support his extradition appeal, Rossi said he had previously been poorly served by legal representatives and this led to him losing his previous court case.