US fugitive Nicholas Rossi dons black legal gown for extradition case in bizarre court stunt

dailyrecord.co.uk:

US fugitive Nicholas Rossi donned a black legal gown for his extradition hearing in the latest bizarre stunt he has pulled in a Scots courtroom.The 35-year-old was brought into Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday in his wheelchair wearing the flowing garment before sitting amongst his legal team.His attire drew no comment from Sheriff Norman McFadyen who has witnessed several of Rossi’s outbursts and tantrums at previous hearings.Rossi spent the hearing listening intently, scribbling notes, and poring over files at the lawyers’ table.A court source said: “He’s spent so much time reading up on the law for his case he must’ve convinced himself he’s an actual lawyer.“It’s probably more believable than his story about being an Irish orphan called Arthur Knight.“Those gowns are normally worn by lawyers in court.

He must’ve bought it on Amazon or something.“His legal team are probably hoping it keeps him quiet.”But Rossi, who has fired a string of lawyers from representing him, failed in his latest effort to aid his own defence.Sheriff McFadyen told the court he’d received a letter from Rossi, which he hadn’t opened, as the accused had lawyers acting for him.The sheriff told Rossi’s lawyer, Mungo Bovey KC, that he could address the court in relation to any matter which Rossi might wish to raise.Later Rossi briefly took the witness stand for what is expected to be the first of several appearances giving evidence this week.Advocate depute Alan Cameron put it to Rossi that he was lying about being a man called Arthur Knight.Rossi, using the bad Irish accent he has employed previously in court, replied: “I am not Nicholas Rossi.