A rape suspect preventing extradition to the US is at this time (Wednesday, August 2) anticipated to seek out out whether or not he will probably be despatched to America. Nicholas Rossi is because of seem at Edinburgh Sheriff Courtroom this morning.
Rossi, 35, is needed within the US in reference to alleged offences together with rape. He’s contesting strikes by authorities there to have him flown over to face authorized proceedings.
He claims to be an Irish orphan referred to as Arthur Knight, a sufferer of mistaken id. In the present day’s listening to was postponed beforehand on medical grounds.
Rossi was arrested within the UK greater than two years in the past in reference to the alleged offences within the US.
He was being handled for Covid-19 on the Queen Elizabeth College Hospital in Glasgow when he was detained in December 2021. It has been alleged that Rossi faked his personal dying in 2020 and fled from the US to the UK to evade prosecution.
Final month, a lawyer preventing in opposition to Rossi’s extradition argued in court docket it will be a “flagrant violation” of his human rights. Mungo Bovey KC argued that Rossi, who claims to be one other man named Arthur Knight, had by no means been confirmed to be a US nationwide citizen.
Bovey raised a variety of points he argued would breach Rossi’s rights if he had been to be extradited together with the impression on his well being, the added issue he would have partaking with legal professionals and the situation of prisons. He argued Rossi’s propensity to create “battle” throughout the jail system, which he attributed to a suspected persona dysfunction, may make life tough for him in a US jail.
Bovey raised these factors after an adjournment was referred to as when Rossi introduced to the court docket he wished to dismiss his lawyer. Rossi mentioned twice that he wished to “dismiss counsel” which drew a warning from the sheriff.
He advised Rossi: “If you’re disruptive I’ll have you ever faraway from court docket.” The listening to continued following the transient adjournment with no additional point out of Rossi’s calls for.
Within the afternoon, advocate depute Alan Cameron urged the sheriff to dismiss Bovey’s arguments and proof led by Rossi regarding his alleged poor well being which Cameron insisted couldn’t be relied upon. Rossi, who has been utilizing a wheelchair to attend court docket because the listening to started, beforehand claimed he was unable to stroll and couldn’t elevate his arms above his head.
However Cameron reminded the court docket {that a} earlier speaker, Dr Barbara Mundweil, had mentioned there isn’t a medical cause for Rossi to make use of the wheelchair. Cameron went on to argue there was no proof that Rossi suffered from any situation, bodily or in any other case, which might be a barrier to his extradition.