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Man Denies Faking death to Evade Rape Charges in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — In a stunning courtroom appearance, a man accused of faking his death and fleeing the U.S. to avoid rape charges in Utah vehemently denied his involvement. Speaking with an apparent British accent, Nicholas Rossi, also known as Nicholas Alahverdian, dismissed the allegations against him as “complete hearsay.”

Charges Stemming from a Decade-Old Incident

The charges against Rossi, 36, stem from an incident that took place in Orem, Utah, back in 2008. Prosecutors allege that he raped a 21-year-old woman, but his identity as a suspect remained unknown until a backlog of DNA test kits at the Utah State Crime Lab led to his identification nearly a decade later.

Identity Confusion

During his court appearance, Rossi, who was extradited from Scotland, identified himself as Arthur Knight Brown and provided a birthdate in the British English format, which differs from Rossi’s original birthdate. The defendant, appearing via video from jail and wearing an oxygen mask, did not enter a plea and struggled to communicate at times.

Denial and Legal Proceedings

Deputy Salt Lake County attorney Tamara Basuez stated that Rossi has not acknowledged his real name or birthdate since returning to Utah. However, Rossi objected to this claim, referring to it as “complete hearsay.” The judge set a detention hearing for January 26 and assured that a lawyer would be appointed for Rossi, who claimed to already have legal representation but stated that his attorney did not receive notice of the initial hearing.

A Troubled Past

Rossi, who spent his childhood in foster homes in Rhode Island, gained attention in the state as a vocal critic of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. He made headlines four years ago when he announced that he had late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma and only had a few weeks to live. An obituary was even published online, falsely claiming that he passed away on February 29, 2020. Prosecutors have revealed that Rossi used multiple aliases over the years.

The End of the Run

Rossi’s attempt to elude the law came to an end when he was recognized by someone at a Glasgow hospital while being treated for COVID-19. Initially insisting that he was an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight and had never set foot in the United States, Rossi alleged that authorities framed him by taking his fingerprints while he was in a coma in order to link him to the rape charges. Throughout his court appearances, Rossi has consistently used a wheelchair, an oxygen mask, and an apparent British accent.

Extradition Battle and Rulings

After a lengthy court battle, Judge Norman McFadyen of Edinburgh Sheriff Court ruled in August that Rossi’s extradition could proceed. The judge characterized Rossi as “dishonest and deceitful” and accused him of being evasive and manipulative.

Nicholas Rossi, or Arthur Knight Brown as he claims, remains incarcerated in relation to the Orem case. His next court hearing will determine the course of legal proceedings against him.

Note: This article has been written in British English to adhere to the context of the events and individuals involved.

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