American fugitive Nicholas Rossi, who faked his own de@th and fled to Scotland to avoid prosecution, has been found guilty of r@pe in the United States.

Rossi, also known as Nicholas Alahverdian  was convicted of a 2008 r@pe in Salt Lake County, Utah, following a three-day trial during which his accuser and her parents testified. He faces another trial in October for an alleged r@pe in Utah County.

The jury of four men and four women deliberated for more than eight hours before reaching their verdict. Rossi, who had been joking with his legal team earlier, showed no emotion when the verdict was read.

Victim’s Testimony

The victim, identified as MS, told the court she met Rossi online, began dating him, and became engaged within two weeks. She described how his behaviour changed — becoming controlling, borrowing money, preventing her from driving her own car, and criticising her clothing.

She said she ended the relationship, at which point Rossi pushed her onto his bed and r@ped her.

Defence Argument

Rossi’s defence claimed the case was incomplete, likening it to “a puzzle from a thrift shop.” They suggested MS fabricated the allegation out of resentment after losing money on engagement rings and only spoke out after seeing Rossi in the news 13 years later.

Second Allegation Pending Trial

The court also heard testimony from KP, another woman who alleges Rossi r@ped her at his Orem, Utah, apartment. She said they met on MySpace in August 2008, and after a brief relationship, she discovered he had spent about $400 (£296) on a computer using her credit card without permission.

When confronted, KP said Rossi admitted he could not repay her. She claimed he then performed a sex act on himself, pulled down her clothing, and pinned her to a couch before r@ping her.

Rossi’s trial over KP’s allegations is set to begin on October 17 in Utah County and is expected to last two weeks.