In a dramatic turn of events, a Scottish court has ruled that a man believed to be American fugitive Nicholas Alahverdian, known in the UK as Nicholas Rossi, can be extradited back to the United States. The man, who denies being Alahverdian, was arrested in December 2021 at a Glasgow hospital where he was being treated for COVID-19. Despite his persistent denial, the court has ruled that he could be extradited.

The decision was made by Judge Norman McFadyen at the Edinburgh Sheriff Court, who had previously ruled in November 2022 that the man claiming to be Arthur Knight was indeed Alahverdian. The judge stated that he was "ultimately satisfied on the balance of probabilities... that Mr. Knight is indeed Nicholas Rossi, the person sought for extradition by the United States." This ruling sends the case to Scottish government ministers for a final decision on the extradition.

The suspect, who has accused authorities of tattooing him while he was in a coma to resemble the wanted man, has appeared in several bizarre television interviews alongside his wife in recent months. He pleaded for privacy and expressed his desire to return to a normal life, stating, "I am not Nicholas Alahverdian! I do not know how to make this clearer!" However, Judge McFadyen has called his claims “fanciful” and "implausible."

US authorities have long asserted that Nicholas Rossi and Arthur Knight are the same person, Nicholas Alahverdian, who faces charges related to a 2008 rape in Utah. Alahverdian is also wanted for failing to register as a sex offender in Rhode Island and faces fraud charges in Ohio. Before leaving the US, he had become an outspoken critic of Rhode Island's Department of Children, Youth and Families, sharing his experiences of sexual abuse and torture while in foster care.

Alahverdian's alleged death in 2020 had been questioned by Rhode Island State Police, his former lawyer, and his former foster family. An obituary published online claimed that he had died on February 29, 2020, but doubts arose regarding the authenticity of his death. The arrest in Scotland brought an end to the alleged deception.

Since his arrest, the suspect, who has been identified as Nicholas Rossi by the Scottish court, has made numerous court appearances and has fired multiple lawyers while maintaining his denial of being Alahverdian or Rossi. The extradition ruling may bring an end to the lengthy legal proceedings surrounding his case.

In a strange twist to the story, it was revealed that the suspect claimed to be an innocent Irishman named Arthur Knight. However, the court dismissed his claims after finding that his tattoos and fingerprints matched records held by the UK's National Crime Agency.

Despite the suspect's attempts to evade justice and his persistent denial of his true identity, the court's ruling paves the way for his extradition to the United States, where he will face charges related to the alleged rape in Utah and other offenses. The final decision now rests with the Scottish government ministers, who will determine the fate of the man believed to be Nicholas Alahverdian, also known as Nicholas Rossi.