Trial date set for Nicholas Rossi’s Salt Lake County rape case

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) – A trial date has been set for next year in the Salt Lake County rape case involving Nicholas Rossi, who was extradited from Scotland to Utah to face allegations of a 2008 rape.

Rossi’s Salt Lake County trial is set to begin April 22, 2025, according to court documents. Rossi, whose legal name is Nicholas Alahverdian, also has a rape case pending in Utah County. Rossi to appear in court for pretrial conference Utah County trial on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

Nicholas Rossi in Utah to face rape charges after extradition from Scotland

Rossi accused of faking death and moving to Scotland to avoid multiple criminal charges in many states, including Utah. Rossi also faces charges of sexual assault, harassment and kidnapping in Rhode Island, Ohio and Massachusetts between 2007 and 2019.

After Rossi was arrested in Scotland and recognized as a wanted fugitive in the United States, a long process began to extradite Rossi.

Judge Norman McFadyen, of Edinburgh Sheriff Court, said Rossi was “evasive and manipulative as well as dishonest and deceptive”. These unfortunate aspects of his character undoubtedly complicated and amplified what was ultimately a simple case,” McFayden said.

Rossi was brought to Utah in January 2024 and remained there. He is currently awaiting two preliminary hearings in his Salt Lake County case, one set for Feb. 21 and the other for April 18, according to court documents. Jury selection will be held on April 21 and the trial will begin at 8:30 a.m. on April 22.

The accusations are merely allegations. All persons arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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