An American accused of faking his own death and fleeing the United States to avoid rape charges has been found guilty of sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend in the first of two trials in Utah.
A Salt Lake County jury found Nicholas Rossi guilty of rape in 2008 after a three-day trial that included testimony from his accuser and her parents.
The verdict came hours after Rossi (38) refused to testify in his own defence.
Sentencing in that case is scheduled for Oct. 20, and he is scheduled to stand trial in September on another rape charge in Utah County.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said first-degree rape in Utah carries a sentence of five years to life in prison.
Mr Gill said: “We are grateful to the victim for her willingness to come forward years after the attack.
“We appreciate her patience as we worked to bring the defendant back to Salt Lake County so that this trial could take place and she could receive justice.
“It took courage and bravery to take a stand and confront the attacker, calling him to account.”
Utah authorities began searching for Rossi, whose real name is Nicholas Alahverdian, after he was identified in 2018 through a DNA test from a 10-year-old rape.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
