US Fugitive Nicholas Rossi Fails in Extradition Appeal

Nicholas Rossi, an American suspected of faking his own death and evading authorities in Scotland, has been denied an appeal against his extradition. US prosecutors are seeking Rossi's return to Utah to face rape charges. Despite asserting that he is actually Arthur Knight and a victim of mistaken identity, Rossi's arguments have been dismissed throughout the legal process. In September, Justice Secretary Angela Constance signed an order approving Rossi's extradition. Last week, he represented himself during a five-hour appeal hearing, which resulted in a ruling upholding a previous decision by a sheriff. The court concluded that there was no evidence suggesting that Rossi's trial in Utah would be unfair or violate his human rights. Rossi, who was receiving treatment for Covid-19 at a hospital in Glasgow, was detained on 13 December 2021. He had claimed to be an orphan named Arthur Knight from Ireland, denying any connection to the US. However, evidence presented in Edinburgh Sheriff Court, such as matching tattoos and fingerprints, led Sheriff Norman McFadyen to rule that Rossi was indeed the fugitive. Rossi alleged that the tattoos were placed on him while he was unconscious in the hospital as part of a plot to frame him. Sheriff McFadyen deemed Rossi's claims of mistaken identity "implausible" and "fanciful," noting his frequent name changes as suspicious and indicative of someone evading detection.