Court rejects Rossi’s attempt to delay US 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.

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 would be the name she would 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.

Continuing his submission in the afternoon, Rossi questioned why he was not allowed to lead fresh evidence, prompting another rebuke from Lady Dorrian.

“The court has made its decision,” she told him. “I am not going to repeat again that you are not allowed to lead new evidence in this case.”

Rossi moved on to argue an “extreme shortage” of solicitors specialising in extradition law had added to his earlier court defeat.

He then suggested prison staff had improperly denied him a medical examination in a lengthy monologue which Lady Dorrian interrupted to remind him he would not have another opportunity to argue his case.

“It is not apparent this has got any bearing on the decision,” she reminded him. “It is in your interest to focus on your submission of grounds of appeal.”

Rossi then made a number of claims about parties seeking to extradite him to the US, arguing he would not receive a fair trial as he had been investigating them and they were seeking to discredit him.

He further went on to allege witnesses involved in earlier court hearings had been “coached” on what to say and that a “media circus” surrounding his appearances in the dock had contributed to prejudice against him.

Lastly Rossi praised the three judges for hearing his appeal, saying he was “truly grateful” for their time and that he thanked them “from the bottom of his heart”.

He added: “Thank you for the opportunity to let justice be done.”

Lady Dorrian said she and her colleagues would provide a written determination of the appeal in due course.