A new three-part documentary series on Channel 4 will look into the case of fugitive rape suspect Nicholas Rossi. The programme, which is being produced by Bristol based Five Mile Films, will explore the shocking story of the 35-year-old who allegedly faked his own death in 2020 to avoid prosecution in Utah.
Rossi, who is also known as Nicholas Alahverdian, has at least 14 other aliases and was arrested after waking up from a Covid-induced coma at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in December 2021.
He has been locked up in HMP Edinburgh and is battling extradition to the United States where he is wanted on rape charges in Utah. Rossi is also a convicted sex offender, an alleged conman and the prime-suspect in at least three alleged rapes.
He was expected to appear in the dock at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last week as part of his long-running extradition battle but he failed to appear after an alleged bust-up with security. A source claimed Rossi had repeatedly punched and kicked a security officer moments after arriving from HMP Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Sheriff Court will decide in June if Rossi should be sent to America to stand trial, with television cameras allowed inside to capture the verdict.
Documentary Extradition (W/T) will use exclusive footage, first-person testimony interview and archive to follow the case, report The Scottish Sun. Nick Mirsky, Executive Producer, Five Mile Films: “I am really pleased that Owen Phillips is working with Five Mile Films to tell this story. He’s an exceptional programme maker and has an unrivalled ability to get to the heart of a story.
"Series Producer Molly Elmes, The Dog House (Channel 4), is one of the rising stars at Five Mile Films who has the rare combination of a light human touch with the ability to meticulously dig into the backstory uncovering shocking truths and a few journalistic scoops.”
Anna Miralis, Senior Commissioner, Channel 4: added“With such an incredibly high calibre of documentary film makers this series is likely to be both compelling and insightful.
"I will look forward to them delving into the unbelievable Arthur Knight story with the aim of discovering whether there is any truth in any of his multitude of claims.”
Fantasist Rossi claims to be an Irishman called Arthur Knight and not an international fugitive. Sheriff McFadeyn blasted the claims and called Rossi’s allegation he was tattooed while in a coma in the Glasgow hospital to frame him as “implausible and fanciful”.
Wife Miranda Knight has claimed that her husband is "100 percent not a rapist".
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