American Fugitive Who Faked Death Found Guilty Of 2008 Rape In Utah

Nicholas Rossi, an American fugitive who staged his own death and fled to Scotland to avoid prosecution, has been convicted of rape in the United States.

Rossi who has also used the name Nicholas Alahverdian was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in Salt Lake County in 2008 after a three-day trial in Utah. The jury of four men and four women deliberated for more than eight hours before returning the verdict.

The victim, identified as MS, testified that she met Rossi online, began dating him, and became engaged within two weeks. She told the court that his behavior quickly turned controlling taking her money, preventing her from driving her own car, and criticizing her appearance. When she tried to end the relationship, MS said Rossi pushed her onto his bed and raped her.

The defense argued the case lacked crucial evidence, describing it as a “puzzle from a thrift shop” with missing pieces. They suggested MS fabricated the accusation out of resentment over financial losses from the broken engagement, only coming forward after seeing Rossi in the news more than a decade later.

Prosecutors also called KP, another woman who has accused Rossi of rape, to testify. KP said she met Rossi on MySpace in August 2008 and briefly dated him. She recounted discovering unauthorized charges of up to \$400 on her credit card for a computer Rossi had purchased. After their breakup, KP alleged Rossi pinned her down and raped her when she tried to leave his apartment.

Rossi, who had been seen joking with his legal team earlier in the trial, remained expressionless as the guilty verdict was read.

He now faces a second trial in Utah County for the alleged rape of KP, set to begin on October 17 and expected to last two weeks.