• Nicholas Rossi faces trial in Utah for alleged rapes after faking his death.
• He claimed to be an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight to evade US authorities.
• The alleged victims detail a controlling relationship leading to the reported assaults.
• The trial includes a jury hearing the twists of Rossi's case over 13 years.
• Prosecutors highlight Rossi's use of multiple aliases to avoid capture.

A jury trial for Nicholas Rossi, also known by his legal name Nicholas Alahverdian, commenced in Utah, where he faces serious charges including allegations of rape against two women from 2008. The trial is notable as Rossi previously faked his death, reporting it in February 2020, only to be found alive in Scotland a year later due to recognition from hospital staff while receiving treatment for COVID-19. Rossi is accused of using at least a dozen aliases to evade capture and has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which are being prosecuted separately in Salt Lake County, according to South China Morning Post, CBS News, and HuffPost.

During the trial, Rossi appeared in court using a wheelchair and an oxygen tank, as he faced one of his alleged victims who described the manipulative and coercive nature of their relationship. The woman testified that she began dating Rossi after responding to a personal ad he placed on Craigslist, and within two weeks, they were engaged. However, the relationship turned controlling, as described by the victim, who stated that Rossi "became controlling and saying mean things to me." She recounted a particularly traumatic incident where he allegedly forced her to have sex, further highlighting the emotional turmoil she endured, according to South China Morning Post, CBS News, and HuffPost.

The prosecution painted a picture of Rossi as a manipulative individual who exploited his alleged victim's vulnerability, having met during a time she was recovering from a traumatic brain injury. In court, the woman disclosed the pressures she faced, including financial burdens during their brief yet tumultuous engagement, revealing that she often paid for their dates and even took on debts for engagement rings. She admitted that she was a "timid person back then," making it difficult to confront Rossi, illustrating a broader pattern of control and manipulation, as echoed in statements from both the South China Morning Post, CBS News, and HuffPost.

Rossi's defense sought to undermine the credibility of the victim by suggesting that she harbored resentment towards him after their relationship ended. They claim she fabricated the allegations against him as a form of retribution after seeing him in the news. As the trial progresses, it is set against the backdrop of Rossi's earlier claims of being framed under the guise of a different identity, an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight, who had never set foot in the U.S., underscoring the complexity and bizarre nature of his case according to South China Morning Post, CBS News, and HuffPost.

Rossi is also set to face additional charges in September related to another rape accusation, complicating his legal battle. His return to the U.S. was orchestrated after authorities in Scotland recognized him from an Interpol notice highlighting his tattoos, which initially led to his extradition back to Utah in January 2024. This series of events has garnered significant public interest, with local authorities underlining the importance of bringing such cases to justice in the face of apparent attempts to evade legal consequences, as noted by South China Morning Post, CBS News, and HuffPost.