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Man Accused of Faking Death to Avoid Rape Charges Denies Identity in Utah Court Appearance

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — In a recent court appearance, a man facing rape charges in Utah denied his true identity, claiming allegations against him were “complete hearsay.” Nicholas Rossi, also known legally as Nicholas Alahverdian, is accused of raping a 21-year-old woman in Orem, Utah, in 2008. The case remained unsolved for many years due to a backlog of DNA test kits at the Utah State Crime Lab.

Rossi, 36, was extradited from Scotland earlier this month to face the charges. During the court appearance, he identified himself as Arthur Knight Brown and provided a birthdate in British English format, which differed from Rossi’s. His accent also appeared to be British, causing confusion in the courtroom.

Wearing an oxygen mask, Rossi appeared via video from jail and did not enter a plea. The deputy Salt Lake County attorney, Tamara Basuez, stated that Rossi had not admitted his real name or birthdate since returning to Utah. However, Rossi objected to the claims, calling them “complete hearsay.”

Rossi is currently held without the possibility of bail in the Orem case. The judge scheduled a detention hearing for January 26. Although Rossi claimed to have an attorney, it was revealed that the attorney did not receive notice of the hearing.

Originally from Rhode Island, Rossi grew up in foster homes and gained attention for criticizing the state’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families. In the past, he made headlines by falsely claiming to have late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and even had an obituary published online stating he died in February 2020.

Prosecutors revealed that Rossi has used at least 10 different aliases over the years. His attempt to evade the law came to an end when he was arrested in December 2021 in Scotland. While seeking treatment for COVID-19 at a Glasgow hospital, he was recognized by someone who alerted the authorities. Rossi, however, maintained that his name was Arthur Knight and that he had never set foot in the United States, alleging that he was framed by the authorities.

Following a lengthy court battle, Judge Norman McFadyen of Edinburgh Sheriff Court ruled in August that Rossi’s extradition could proceed. The judge heavily criticized Rossi, describing him as “dishonest and deceitful” and highlighting his evasive and manipulative behavior.

This news article is based on information from AP News and KSTU-TV.

For more details and updates on this case, please refer to the respective news sources.

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