Court rejects US fugitive Nicholas Rossi’s attempt to delay extradition

Judges have rejected moves made by a man facing extradition to the United States to give him more to time to fight the order.

Nicholas Rossi, 36, lodged an appeal against the extradition order earlier this year with the High Court, which was heard in Edinburgh on Thursday.

Scottish ministers signed an order in September giving permission for him to be extradited to the US to face charges, following a lengthy extradition case in the Scottish courts.

Representing himself in court on Thursday, Rossi moved a number of preliminary motions, including one calling for an extension to his appeal period to allow him more time to lead new evidence.

He also moved to be granted bail, and to have the court impose restrictions on the media reporting of his case.

Rossi initially came to the attention of the authorities after he became ill with Covid-19 and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in December 2021.

Despite a sheriff ruling that he is Rossi, he claims he is a victim of mistaken identity and is an Irish orphan called Arthur Knight.

Rossi again argued in court on Thursday that he was the subject of mistaken identity and objected to lawyers referring to him by that name, which drew a rebuke from Lady Dorrian.

She reminded Rossi that his identity had already been established through earlier court proceedings and insisted this is the name she will use to address him during the appeal hearing.

Lady Dorrian, sitting alongside Lord Malcolm and Lord Armstrong, also rejected each of Rossi’s preliminary motions, stating it is not the High Court’s place to hear fresh evidence in the case and it is also not in a position to grant bail.

Asked to provide a submission backing his appeal against extradition, Rossi said he had been previously ill-served by legal representatives and this led to him losing his earlier court case.

Rossi is expected to complete his appeal submission to the court on Thursday afternoon.