US fugitive who fled to Scotland to evade sex assault case demands ‘less stringent’ bail conditions
Bloated American ‘Covid conman’ fugitive, 34, who faked his death and fled to Scotland to evade sex assault charges in US clutches oxygen mask as he is wheeled to court covered in a tartan rug ahead of extradition hearing
Lawyers acting for Nicholas Rossi asked for an end to police visits at his home Rossi told media in December 2019 he had late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphomaHe said he had weeks to live before several US outlets reported that he had diedRossi was found alive in Scotland last year after being admitted to a Covid wardHe is wanted for alleged sexual assault, said to have taken place in Utah in 2008
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An American ‘Covid conman’ who faked his own death before being found on a Covid ward in Scotland was pictured being wheeled into court today under a tartan blanket while clutching an oxygen mask.
Nicholas Rossi, 34, who is wanted in the US for alleged sex crimes, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court Thursday donning a Fedora hat, sunglasses and a pin stripe suit.
Escorted by police while cutting a notably rounder figure, he looked almost unrecognisable as he demanded more lenient bail conditions ahead of an extradition hearing, scheduled for May.
Rossi – who was previously deemed a ‘significant flight risk’ – is demanding that police no longer be allowed to make unscheduled visits to his home in Woodlands, Glasgow.
Appearing before Sheriff Thomas Welsh QC, his solicitor John Good branded the visits ‘oppressive’ and said they were causing difficulties for his client, who is still receiving oxygen treatment after falling seriously ill with Covid-19.
Rossi is accused of faking his death from cancer in the US to avoid being prosecuted for sexual assault allegations, before fleeing to Scotland – where he was arrested on December 13 last year after being admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for urgent treatment for Covid, allegedly using the alias Arthur Knight.
Lawyers acting for a man alleged to be Nicholas Rossi, 34, passed on the request to prosecutors during a court hearing on Thursday. (Pictured: Man purported to be Mr Rossi arriving at court in a wheelchair, donning an oxygen mask, Fedora hat and pinstriped suit)
Cutting a notably rounder figure, he looked almost unrecognisable as he demanded more lenient bail conditions ahead of an extradition hearing, scheduled for May
Rossi (pictured) is accused of faking his death from cancer in the US to avoid a sexual assault charge, before fleeing to Scotland
Police help escort Rossi to a court hearing in Edinburgh on Thursday
Rossi’s lawyer said there were ‘difficulties’ with the numerous police visits to his home in Glasgow
Rossi leaves court on Thursday under police guard as reporters film the moment he is wheeled into a taxi
He was traced following a tip off from Interpol while he was on a ventilator in intensive care.
Sheriff Alistair Noble remanded Rossi in custody following a hearing last month.
However, he was granted bail after a hearing at the Sheriff Appeal Court last week.
But a condition of his bail is that he allow police officers to visit his home at any time of day.
His lawyer Mr Good argued there were ‘difficulties’ with the numerous police visits.
He said: ‘He is subject to a curfew between 6pm and 6am every evening.
‘I have passed information onto the Crown about how the police are calling every day.
‘The calls are coming early in the morning, late into the evening and sometimes into the early hours.
‘I have passed the information in the hope of making the order less stringent because of all the difficulties that are proceeding from it.’
The solicitor also told the court that if the order wasn’t made less stringent, lawyers could make a legal challenge on the basis that the requirement was ‘oppressive’.
Rossi – who previously had his bail revoked for attempting to evade justice – is demanding that police no longer be allowed to make unscheduled visits to his home in Woodlands, Glasgow. (Pictured: Rossi covers his face as he breathes through an oxygen mask)
Prosecutors say the male who appeared before Sheriff Thomas Welsh QC on Thursday (pictured) is Nicholas Rossi, who is wanted in the States over an allegation of sexual assault
Rossi told US media in December 2019 that he had late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had weeks to live – before several outlets reported that he had died in February 2020.
Rossi, who also goes by the name Nicholas Alahverdian, is accused by Utah prosecutors of fleeing the US to avoid prosecution for an alleged sexual assault in 2008.
He is also said to have attacked women in the states of Rhode Island, Ohio and Massachusetts.
Sheriff Noble remanded him in custody last month after hearing submissions that he was a ‘significant flight risk’.
However, he is now on bail.
On Thursday, Rossi came into court on an electric wheelchair.
While he was not in the dock, he sat at the table where solicitors usually make their submissions and removed his Fedora hat.
Rossi (pictured in undated photo), who also goes by the name Nicholas Alahverdian, is accused by Utah prosecutors of fleeing the US to avoid prosecution for an alleged sexual assault in 2008.
Rossi (pictured) is said to have attacked women in the states of Rhode Island, Ohio and Massachusetts
Mr Good started proceedings by saying: ‘I represent Nicholas Rossi or Mr Knight as he prefers to be known as.’
Prosecutor Claire Kennedy told the court that the Crown didn’t oppose a motion to discharge a hearing scheduled to take place next week.
She told the court that a procedural hearing will take place in eight weeks’ time ahead of a full hearing in May.
Ms Kennedy also said the court will then establish the man’s identity – of whether he is Nicholas Rossi or another male called Arthur Knight.
She said: ‘The issue of identity will be dealt with at the full hearing.’
Sheriff Welsh then continued the man’s bail and fixed hearings to take place in April and May 2022.
Following proceedings, Rossi sat in his wheelchair outside court, where he took business cards from several reporters – who had been unable to hear him under his oxygen and face mask.
He then left the court building and was given help to get into a waiting taxi.
The case will be back in the courts later this year.
