A man accused of being a US fugitive and wanted by the FBI on sexual assault charges has told a court there was ‘mass hysteria’ surrounding his case as he unsuccessfully tried to apply reporting restrictions on it .
US prosecutors say the man is Nicholas Rossi, who allegedly raped a 21-year-old in Utah in 2008 and also assaulted women in Rhode Island. Ohio and Massachusetts†
However, the 34-year-old claims to be Arthur Knight, a victim of mistaken identity who has never been to America.
The man, who gave his name as Knight, appeared before the Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday as part of an extradition procedure against him.
He allegedly faked his own death and fled to Scotland to escape charges.
Photos taken today showed him sitting in a wheelchair and wearing an oxygen mask after arriving at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in the back of a private ambulance. He was wearing burgundy pajamas, a dressing gown and black slippers.
His wife, Miranda Knight, was also seen in court today.
Rossi was taken into custody last week after being charged by the Glasgow Sheriff Court with threatening two hospital drugs. He is due to stand trial in August for the separate alleged crimes.
The man who would be Rossi was arrested in Glasgow earlier this year after being hospitalized with Covid-19.
An alleged fugitive who faked his own death to evade sex charges in the US has arrived in court in Scotland for an extradition hearing. US prosecutors say the man is Nicholas Rossi, who allegedly raped a 21-year-old in Utah in 2008
Rossie’s wife, Miranda Knight, was also seen in court today
Sheriff Alistair Noble on Tuesday considered a motion to postpone the extradition proceedings against him until Thursday over the Glasgow criminal case.
Sheriff Noble agreed to postpone the fictional hearing until Thursday.
The man, who was representing himself, then tried to file his own motion in court in an effort to limit press coverage.
He said there was “mass hysteria” surrounding the case and claimed it had “turned into a media frenzy”.
He said the media had disrespected the court by “constantly referring to me as Nicholas Rossi.”
Rossi (pictured) is accused of faking his cancer death in the US to avoid sexual assault charges, before fleeing to Scotland
Defendant arrives by ambulance at Edinburgh Sheriff And Justice Of The Peace Court, for a hearing on Nicholas Rossi’s extradition to the US
The suspect is driven out of the private ambulance by a paramedic
The man who claimed to be Mr Knight told the court: “I would argue that it is incredibly important that this case is brought to trial so that the public humiliation I have experienced is not taken into account.”
Sheriff Noble, however, said, “I haven’t heard anything that would justify placing an order.”
The sheriff said the case would be judged by a judge rather than a jury, so there was no risk of compromising the case.
As he was wheeled back to his ambulance, the suspect quoted Sherlock Holmes as saying, “The game has begun. The game has begun.’
His wife had sat in the dock of the Edinburgh court, while the accused himself sat at a table usually reserved for lawyers.
Sheriff Alistair Noble on Tuesday considered a motion to postpone the extradition proceedings against him until Thursday over the Glasgow criminal case. Above: the suspect arrives at the court
The suspect puts two fingers in the air when he arrives at the court in a burgundy robe
The suspect was charged last Thursday with acting aggressively against a counselor and chief nurse at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow.
Last month, the Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told he was using “every possible means” to delay the extradition procedure.
Last week, Julie Clark, the prosecutor in the case unrelated to the US extradition request, said the suspect had been identified as Rossi by police witnesses and medical professionals.
The suspect was charged last Thursday with acting aggressively against a counselor and chief nurse at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow.
“This man has denied being that person and has refused to provide DNA or fingerprints to prove that position,” Ms Clark said in a Glasgow court.
Rossi reportedly told US media in December 2019 that he has late-stage non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and has weeks to live.
An obituary dedicated to him appeared online and several outlets reported that he passed away in February 2020.