A suspected fugitive, who US authorities say faked his death to escape sex charges, is wanted for questioning over a rape complaint in England.
International law enforcement is trying to extradite Nicholas Rossi from Scotland, where he was arrested on an Interpol warrant in 2021 while being treated in a COVID-19 ward.
The 35-year-old is wanted by US police on serious sex offense allegations.
Detectives in England have now confirmed to Sky News that they also want to question Mr Rossi over a separate Essex rape allegation.
Earlier in November, a Scottish court sheriff has ruled for the first time that Arthur Knight – the man arrested in the COVID ward – was, in fact, Nicholas Rossian American rape suspect who faked his own death.
An Essex Police spokesman said: “We are now in contact with the Scottish authorities to facilitate an interview with the man regarding a not recent allegation of rape in Chelmsford, which was made to us in April 2022 .”
Mr Rossi had attempted to use a series of false aliases, including that of Irish orphan Arthur Knight, a man he said had never set foot in the United States.
He also used Nicholas Alahverdian and Nicholas Alahverdian Rossi, and is wanted in connection with an alleged sexual assault in Utah in 2008 and an attack in Ohio in 2018.
The man who calls himself Arthur Knight still insists he’s not Nicholas Rossi
The 35-year-old suggested his body was tattooed while he was unconscious in a Glasgow hospital, in a bid to sow doubt that his body art matched that of an Interpol Red Notice.
His attempts to convince the court he was an innocent victim caught up in a case of mistaken identity failed, meaning Mr Rossi faced a full extradition hearing in January and March.
But, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) said alleged offenses in the UK must be dealt with first, meaning his extradition could be delayed.
If Mr Rossi is charged in Essex, his extradition to the United States will be suspended.
A spokesperson for the SCTS said: “The extradition should await the conclusion of the national case, in accordance with section 76A (2) of the Extradition Act.”
