Nicholas Rossi: US fugitive who faked his death can be extradited

An American fugitive who faked his ain decease tin beryllium extradited from Scotland to his homeland, a sheriff has ruled.

Nicholas Rossi, who claims to beryllium Arthur Knight and a unfortunate of mistaken identity, is wanted successful Utah to look rape charges.

The last determination connected his extradition present rests with Scottish ministers.

Rossi, 35, was being treated for Covid-19 erstwhile helium was arrested astatine the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital successful Glasgow connected 13 December 2021.

A sheriff subsequently ruled that helium was Nicholas Rossi and not Arthur Knight, arsenic helium had repeatedly claimed, with the bizarre communicative making headlines connected some sides of the Atlantic.

Authorities successful the US person said Rossi was known by respective aliases, including Nicholas Alahverdian.

He was progressive successful section authorities successful the authorities of Rhode Island and was a professional of the state's kid payment system.

In December 2019 helium told media successful his location authorities that helium had late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had weeks to live.

Several quality outlets successful Rhode Island reported that helium had died successful February 2020.

A memorial posted online described him arsenic a "warrior that fought connected the beforehand lines for 2 decades" for children's rights and said his ashes had been scattered astatine sea.

But little than 2 years aboriginal Rossi, who was the taxable of an Interpol wanted notice, turned up connected a infirmary ward successful Glasgow during the pandemic.

In March past year, arsenic helium awaited his extradition hearing, the fugitive was interviewed by BBC Scotland newsman Steven Godden successful Glasgow.

Rossi, who was successful a wheelchair and wearing an oxygen mask, maintained helium was not Nicholas Rossi - and claimed to person ne'er adjacent been to America.

He besides introduced his wife, Miranda Knight, and claimed the mates got joined successful Bristol successful 2020.

Rossi brought a heap of documents to BBC Scotland's Pacific Quay office but said helium had nary commencement certificate arsenic helium was adopted successful Ireland earlier moving to London successful his teens.

But past November a tribunal successful Edinburgh ruled that helium was Rossi aft proceeding that his fingerprints and distinctive tattoos matched those of the fugitive.

He appeared successful tribunal successful wheelchair each time during the three-day recognition hearing, and his accent changed respective times portion helium was giving evidence.

Despite the ruling Rossi maintained helium was the unfortunate of mistaken individuality - and said helium had been tattooed portion helium was lying unconscious successful infirmary successful an effort to framework him.

Rossi, who is being held connected remand astatine HMP Edinburgh, returned to the city's Sheriff Court successful June of this twelvemonth for his extradition hearing.

Mungo Bovey KC urged the tribunal to garbage extradition of his lawsuit oregon adjourn proceedings to let fuller probe of his intelligence health.

But advocator depute Alan Cameron said determination was nary grounds Rossi - who turned up successful tribunal wearing what appeared to beryllium a achromatic ineligible gown - suffered from immoderate important carnal oregon intelligence unwellness and suggested the sheriff could not trust connected thing helium said.

Sheriff Norman McFadyen had been owed to present his ruling past period but the proceeding was delayed aft Rossi tested affirmative for Covid.