Rape suspect Nicholas Rossi's bail denied over fear he's a "significant" flight risk

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Rape suspect Nicholas Rossi's latest request for bail has been denied over fears he may be "significant" flight riskNicholas Rossi tried to con the Scottish courts last year into believing he was Arthur Knight, an Irish orphan who had never been to the US.However, after 11 months of court hearings, a sheriff ruled he was Rossi, a 36-year-old man that American authorities were seeking in connection with sexual assault charges.It has been alleged he faked his own death in 2020 and fled to Scotland to evade prosecution before he was arrested in December 2021.At a hearing at the Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Mungo Bovey KC, defending, requested that Rossi, who appeared before the court in a wheelchair and wearing a face mask, be granted bail until extradition proceedings are concluded.

The lawyer said being held in custody has had a "very serious" impact on Rossi. Mr Bovey told the court the tenancy that Rossi and his wife, Miranda, have is coming to an end, and therefore she is "facing losing her accommodation at a time when she is facing a health crisis".

Mr Bovey said his client, whom he still refers to as Mr Knight, has been subject to "special security measures" in HMP Edinburgh, and "his electric wheelchair was removed from him within the prison with the effect of limiting his mobility and quality of life".

Mr Bovey insisted the couple would offer a number of security provisions if Rossi was to be granted bail, including for him to wear a tag or be subject to a curfew, or for Miranda to surrender her passport - adding that his client does not own one. "The circumstances of the case are such that there is no need for him to continue in custody and no significant risk of him absconding," Mr Bovey said.