US fugitive Nicholas Rossi has denied being a serial liar who faked his own death in a bid to escape justice.
Rossi, 35, was giving evidence on the fourth day of extradition proceedings against him at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday.
Under cross examination from advocate depute Alan Cameron, Rossi denied he would “do or say anything” to avoid being extradited.
Asked whether he had faked his death, Rossi said: “I have no information on the faking of any death that I’ve committed because I’ve never done that.”
But the witness - who claims to be an Irishman called Arthur Knight - alleged he “had the identity of the person who did that to Mr Rossi”
Rossi denied faking his need to use a wheelchair and said he’d been framed in a conspiracy led by a US legal figure involved in a “paedophilia, murder and cannibalism”.
Rossi is fighting a bid to return him to his US homeland to face charges including rape.
He was arrested at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in December 2021 while receiving treatment for Covid-19.
Rossi reportedly told US media in December 2019 that he had late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had weeks to live. Several outlets reported that he had died in February 2020.
Mungo Bovey KC, acting for Rossi, asked his client about evidence given on Wednesday by Dr Barbara Mundweil, a GP who cares for inmates at Saughton Prison including the accused.
Mr Bovey said Dr Mundweil had “cast doubt” on Rossi’s medical need to use a wheelchair.
Rossi replied: “I would say that doubt is unfounded.”
He told the court he’d been using a wheelchair for six years and had been “permanently” using one since September 2021.
Rossi said a combination of bilateral pneumonia, severe covid, back problems, and muscle atrophy from being in a coma had left him unable to walk.
Dr Mundweil told the hearing Rossi claims to be “paralysed”, but the witness denied that. He added: “I’m not paralysed. I cannot walk, I cannot stand, I cannot support myself in any way from the waist down.”
Rossi told the court he “can’t lift my arms above my head and keep them there” despite him regularly raising his arm fully for long periods in an effort to get the attention of various sheriffs during previous hearings.
Mr Bovey also asked him about Dr Mundweil’s evidence that Rossi stopped using an extra oxygen supply in February. The doctor said “healthy person” would give oxygen level readings of 98 or 99 per cent, and Rossi would give readings of 97 or 98.
Rossi told the court he had only “15 per cent lung capacity”.
Mr Bovey asked about psychiatrist witnesses who have told the hearing Rossi may have a personality disorder though it was undiagnosed.
Rossi said he would “gladly” undergo an assessment.
Mr Cameron later asked Rossi what “family history” he would provide a psychiatrist attempting to come to a diagnosis.
Rossi said he would tell them he was Arthur Knight who was born in Dublin and had never visited the US. He added: “If I don’t prove it, I will look a fool and I don’t propose to look ridiculous.”
Mr Cameron put it to the witness that he’d “faked his own death or attempted to do so” to evade prosecution.
Rossi denied it, adding he knew the “identity of the person who did that to Mr Rossi”.
Mr Cameron put it to Rossi he’d “lied about and exaggerated his medical condition”.
Rossi replied: “Not at all.”
Mr Cameron said: “You currently sit in a wheelchair which there is no medical need for you to have.”
Rossi said: “I do have a medical reason. That medical reason is atrophy of the muscles in my legs.”
The advocate depute said Rossi was guilty of “deceit” and “manipulation”, adding: “We can’t rely on a word coming out your mouth.”
Rossi replied: “Everything I relate to the court is documentary in nature.”
After Mr Cameron said Rossi would “do or say anything to avoid extradition, Rossi spoke for several minutes about an alleged conspiracy against him whose ringleader is involved in murder and cannibalism.
The hearing before Sheriff Norman McFadyen continues.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
