The fingerprints of man dealing with extradition to the US are equivalent these of the needed fugitive Nicholas Rossi, a court docket has heard.
The court docket in Edinburgh is making an attempt to find out the identification of the person, who claims he’s 35-year-old Arthur Knight, however who officers within the US say is Nicholas Rossi – who is needed for raping a 21-year-old in Utah.
Lisa Davidson, a Tenprint Identification Officer, was known as to present proof at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday.
An Interpol pink discover doc for Rossi’s arrest was proven on the listening to, that includes a number of headshots of Rossi, and his fingerprints.
A doc with the fingerprints of the person claiming to be Mr Knight, taken at Saughton Prison in Edinburgh this yr, was additionally proven to the court docket.
Ms Davidson, who has labored in fingerprint identification for 22 years, was requested by advocate depute Paul Harvey what her conclusion was when she in contrast the fingerprints on the 2 paperwork.
She replied: “I found that they were identical. The fingerprints were identical. All 10 prints were identical.”
Ms Davidson was then requested to check the person’s fingerprints with these of the needed man Rossi’s on an extradition request, additionally proven earlier than the court docket.
She mentioned the standard of the fingerprints on the extradition request was unhealthy, however mentioned she was capable of affirm the left forefinger and thumb have been the identical as the person’s.
Tattoos are ‘a match’
The court docket heard the person was arrested on 13 October final yr whereas being cared for at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow after creating respiratory issues from contracting COVID-19.
Charge nurse Ruth Keating, 58, who was on responsibility on the time, gave proof to the listening to, telling the court docket she cared for a affected person known as Arthur Knight.
She was offered with the identical Interpol pink discover doc that includes photographs of Rossi, however was requested by Mr Harvey to concentrate on images of his arms, which featured tattoos.
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Addressing one picture displaying a tattoo of a pink cross above an angel wing, Ms Keating mentioned: “That looks like the tattoo I saw on Arthur Knight.”
When Mr Harvey requested her if she may determine Arthur Knight within the court docket room, Ms Keating pointed to the person.
Dr Robert Hart, 36, an intensive care advisor who handled the person, additionally recognised the images proven to him by police as affected person Arthur Knight.
He mentioned the tattoos he noticed on the affected person have been a “match” to these proven within the needed man’s images.
He informed the court docket the tattoos have been “discoloured”, and “the skin around the tattoos was fairly warped”.
Mr Harvey put it to Dr Hart if he had seen comparable pores and skin on sufferers who had tattoos eliminated, to which he replied: “I am no expert in that.”
Earlier, the person arrived at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in a wheelchair chained to custody officers.
Asked originally of the listening to if he was Nicholas Rossi or Arthur Knight, he replied: “Arthur Knight.”
The man’s lawyer, Mungo Bovey KC, proceeded to inform the court docket of a number of points regarding authorized proceedings concerning his shopper and requested the case be adjourned.
He additionally informed the court docket there have been authorized issues over the best way the warrant for his arrest was issued and claimed his shopper didn’t obtain the provisional arrest certificates (PAC) after his arrest in December.
But Sheriff Norman McFadyen rejected the request for adjournment and proceeded with the identification listening to.
The case continues.
Source: information.sky.com”