A rape suspect who’s alleged to have faked his personal demise within the US has denied mendacity as his extradition battle bought underneath manner in Edinburgh.

US authorities need Nicholas Rossi faraway from the UK to face intercourse expenses within the state of Utah.

The 35-year-old – who’s accused of establishing a bogus memorial to mark his personal demise – has claimed he’s an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight and never a US citizen.

It is alleged he fled to the UK to dodge prosecution.

But final November, after months of hearings, a Scottish courtroom dominated that he was the person American authorities have been making an attempt to trace down.

Rossi was found through a global regulation enforcement pink discover inside a COVID ward in Glasgow in 2021 the place he was arrested.

He recommended his physique had been tattooed by a rogue NHS worker whereas he was unconscious within the hospital, in an try to create doubt that his physique artwork was an an identical match to that on a worldwide police pink discover.

The claims have been branded “implausible and scandalous” by a sheriff.

On Monday, the official course of to aim to extradite Rossi lastly started in Edinburgh.

Rossi arrived at courtroom in a wheelchair sporting black authorized robes.

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The day was marred by authorized arguments over whether or not proceedings ought to be deserted after it emerged police in Essex are trying to query the accused in reference to a historic rape allegation.

Rossi’s lawyer, Mungo Bovey KC, urged the extradition listening to to be scrapped – citing a current determination to maneuver him to a jail south of the border in order that English police can query him about an alleged rape there.

Mr Bovey argued it could be unsuitable to press forward with the listening to then, doubtlessly, set phrases for Rossi’s extradition to the US primarily based on his present medical situation earlier than realizing whether or not he can be charged in England.

He mentioned ought to expenses be introduced and confirmed, then Rossi might find yourself serving a custodial sentence in England throughout which his well being might deteriorate earlier than being extradited underneath the phrases set in Edinburgh when he was in higher well being.

Advocate depute Alan Cameron argued the extradition listening to must proceed, nonetheless, saying Mr Bovey’s argument rested on prospects.

Sheriff Norman McFadyen threw out the appliance to defer the case.

Rossi later took to the stand and recommended the preliminary police arrest course of was flawed amid claims he was not served an important National Crime Agency doc.

The courtroom heard from a police constable who recalled delivering that paper to Rossi in his hospital mattress. Rossi denied he ever acquired it.

Prosecutor Mr Cameron mentioned: “You are not telling the truth. You are lying.”

Rossi, who continues to insist he’s Arthur Knight, responded: “That is not true.”

The extradition listening to at Edinburgh Sheriff Court is predicted to final 5 days.