Nicholas Rossi acknowledges using the alias Arthur Knight during rape trial hearing | Global News
Rape suspect Nicholas Rossi, who previously fought extradition from Scotland to America on the grounds of mistaken identity, has now acknowledged in court that he and alias Arthur Knight are the same person.
Rossi made this revelation during a bail hearing for one of the two rape cases he is currently facing in Utah.
He denies the allegations of fleeing to the UK in 2017 and faking his death to evade arrest.
Testifying in an American accent at the Provo hearing, Rossi explained that he moved to Europe in 2017 and changed his name to Nicholas Alahverdian and Nicholas Brown in 2020 due to credible threats on his life.
After a lengthy legal battle, Rossi was extradited to the US earlier this year, with the court ruling against his claims of mistaken identity as Irish orphan Arthur Knight.
Following his arrest in a Glasgow hospital in December 2021, Rossi repeatedly maintained his innocence in the face of identity accusations.
In November 2022, Edinburgh Sheriff Court confirmed that his tattoos and fingerprints matched those of Rossi.
Addressing the rape charges against him, Rossi pled not guilty and asserted that he discovered threats against his life in 2020, possibly related to his work in Rhode Island politics.
Rossi had been an advocate for reforms in the foster care system, having testified about his childhood abuse experiences, which he believes might have led to the threats.
In an attempt to protect his safety, Rossi refused to reveal the source of the threats during the hearing.
The courtroom was temporarily closed for Rossi to disclose the threats to Judge Derek Pullan.
Despite his defense team’s pleas for bail due to his health issues, including oxygen dependency and muscle weakness post-COVID, Judge Pullan ruled that Rossi be held without bail based on his past actions and flight risk potential.
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Rossi in 2023. Pic: PA
Rossi remains in custody as the legal proceedings continue for the rape allegations against him from 2008 in Orem and Salt Lake County.
Investigations have revealed details of Rossi’s movements and actions leading up to his extradition to face trial in the US.
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