A fugitive conman wanted in America over rape and fraud charges has gone on TV moaning that he is the victim of a “vicious lie”.
The man, who calls himself Arthur Knight, is set to face extradition proceedings after being arrested at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital last year while being treated for covid.
Authorities say he is using an alias and is actually Nicholas Rossi - a man who faked his own death in 2020 to avoid prosecution for an array of offences.
The suspect is facing claims he raped a 21-year-old in Orem, Utah, in 2008. He is also said to have attacked women in Rhode Island, Ohio and Massachusetts.
But Knight, who lives in Glasgow with his wife Miranda, 41, claims prosecutors have the wrong man and he’s a victim of mistaken identity.
Speaking to STV News from his wheelchair, the man said: “I’m Arthur Knight and this is my wife Miranda Knight. And unfortunately there are those who have claimed differently.
“He is going to be needing a very large team on the pitch to try to say that I am a rapist.
“Not only are we terrified because this is a vicious lie but we are also incredibly disgusted by the fact that we now have to live our lives in a secretive way because my wife can’t even walk down the pavement to get a pint of milk. “
Asked why he had decided to speak to various media outlets, the suspect stated: “The truth needs to be known.”
When questioned by Sharon Frew, he repeatedly denied using any of the many aliases linked back to him.
And he added: “We’re sitting here having a conversation. I’ve never been dead to anyone.”
Wife Miranda added: “After so many years, I know him inside out. I know his characteristics, his tendencies. I know my husband does not have tendencies as a rapist.”
Prosecutors say the conman suspect has previously used the names Nicholas Alahverdian, Nick Alan, Nicholas Brown, Arthur Brown and Arthur Knight.
He was identified from his hospital by “photo evidence” while fingerprints and DNA were handed over to Interpol officials.
He was arrested and later appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court where he denied the allegations against him.
The Sunday Mail previously revealed Rossi, who called himself a PR executive, had fled the US and was living in Bristol when he scammed $40,000 from Canadian TV star Nafsika Antypas.
A month before Rossi married Miranda in February 2020, tributes claimed he had died of cancer.
The couple moved to Glasgow’s west end last May where Rossi, who locals said had an English accent, claimed he had a job at Glasgow University.
He began using the surname Knight-Brown and the first name Arthur.
His wife claimed she met him several years ago before he moved into the house she owns in her home city of Bristol.
A marriage certificate seen by the Sunday Mail shows they wed on February 22, 2020.
Miranda also previously spoke to our sister paper and said she loves her husband who has "always been the perfect gentleman to me."
Rossi is due to appear in court in Edinburgh in April for an extradition hearing.
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