BREAKING NEWS 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 can be extradited from Scotland to face serious sex charges, including rape, in the US after judges refused his appeal.
Scottish ministers signed an order in September giving permission for Nicholas Rossi, 36, to be extradited, following a lengthy case in the Scottish courts.
Rossi, who is facing charges for allegedly raping a 21-year-old in Utah in 2008, lodged an appeal against the extradition order which was heard in Edinburgh last week.
However, in a decision published on Thursday, judges refused the appeal concluding ‘there is no merit in any of the appellant’s arguments’.
Rossi initially came to the attention of the authorities after he became ill with Covid-19 and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in December 2021.
Rossi is facing charges for allegedly raping a 21-year-old in Utah in 2008
Nicholas Rossi can be extradited from Scotland to face serious sex charges, including rape, in the US after judges refused his appeal
He lodged an appeal against an extradition order, which was signed by Scottish ministers earlier this year with the High Court and was heard in Edinburgh on Thursday
Despite a sheriff ruling that he is Rossi, he claims he is a victim of mistaken identity and is an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight.
Previously, judges rejected moves made by the fugitive rape suspect to delay his extradition to the United States to give him more to time to fight the order.
Representing himself in court last week, Rossi moved a number of preliminary motions, including one calling for an extension to his appeal period to allow him more time to lead new evidence.
He also moved to be granted bail, and to have the court impose restrictions on the media reporting of his case.
Rossi initially came to the attention of the authorities after he became ill with Covid-19 and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in December 2021.
Despite a sheriff ruling that he is Rossi, he claims he is a victim of mistaken identity and is an Irish orphan called Arthur Knight.
Scottish ministers signed an order in September giving permission for Rossi (pictured) to be extradited to the US to face charges, following a lengthy extradition case in the Scottish courts
Rossi again argued in court on Thursday that he was the subject of mistaken identity and objected to lawyers referring to him by that name, which drew a rebuke from Lady Dorrian.
She reminded Rossi that his identity had already been established through earlier court proceedings and insisted this is the name she will use to address him during the appeal hearing.
Lady Dorrian, sitting alongside Lord Malcolm and Lord Armstrong, also rejected each of Rossi’s preliminary motions, stating it is not the High Court’s place to hear fresh evidence in the case and it is also not in a position to grant bail.
Asked to provide a submission backing his appeal against extradition, Rossi said he had been previously ill-served by legal representatives and this led to him losing his earlier court case.
Source: Read Full Article
