US fugitive Nicholas Rossi to be quizzed by cops over alleged rape in England while on the run

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Fugitive sex offender Nicholas Rossi will be transferred to England for questioning over an alleged rape from 2017. Essex Police are setting up a prisoner transfer agreement with authorities in Scotland to ask about an attack on a woman he met in the UKafter fleeing the US, the Record can reveal.

The deal is being worked on after the 35-year-old’s identity was confirmed at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday, where claims that he was an Irishman called Arthur Knight were thrown out.

Rossi is accused of raping Michelle Minnaar, 41, at her home in Essex during a five-week abusive relationship which he started after fleeing his home in Rhode Island.He arrived at her door with suitcases in June 2017 after targeting her on a dating website and convincing her to let him stay with her.Photographer Michelle contacted Essex Police earlier this year to allege she was raped in her home by Rossi.Last night, a spokesman for the force confirmed they would be speaking to Rossi, who is facing extradition to the US over allegations of two other rapes and a sexual assault in Utah.He said: “We are aware of a decision made by a Scottish court in relation to a man arrested there.“We are now liaising with Scottish authorities in order to facilitate an interview with the man regarding a non-recent allegation of rape in Chelmsford which was made to us in April 2022.”If Essex Police charge Rossi with rape, that case and any subsequent conviction would have to be completed before he could be extradited.The Scottish Courts Service confirmed those were the rules under the Extradition Act.Michelle, who waived her anonymity to reveal her relationship with Rossi, said: “It’s taken too long but it’s a relief that he’s now recognised as who I said he