Mungo Bovey KC summed up his arguments shortly after an adjournment had to be called at Edinburgh Sheriff Court when suspect Nicholas Rossi announced he wanted to dismiss his lawyer.

Rossi, 35, is wanted in the US in connection with alleged offences including rape and is contesting moves by authorities there to have him flown over to face trial.

His interruption came as Mr Bovey argued Rossi, who claims to be an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight, had never been proven to be a US national citizen.

Mr Bovey raised a number of issues he argued would breach Rossi's rights if he were to be extradited including making it more difficult for him to engage with lawyers and the condition of prisons.

He said prisons in the state of Utah were short-staffed, offered "poor" medical care and had twice the average rate of deaths by suicide.

He also pointed out an executive board and not a judicial one would decide Rossi's sentence should he be convicted of rape in the US and this could be considered another breach.

Mr Bovey raised these points after the adjournment was called when Rossi announced to the court he wished to dismiss him.

Rossi said twice that he wanted to "dismiss counsel" which drew a warning from sheriff Norman McFadyen.

He told Rossi: "If you are disruptive I will have you removed from court."

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The hearing continued following the brief adjournment with no further mention of Rossi's demands.

Advocate depute Alan Cameron urged the sheriff to dismiss Mr Bovey's arguments and evidence led by Rossi relating to his alleged poor health which Mr Cameron insisted could not be relied upon.

Rossi, who has been using a wheelchair to attend court since the hearing began, previously claimed he was unable to walk and could not raise his arms above his head.

But Mr Cameron reminded the court that a previous speaker, Dr Barbara Mundweil, had said there is no medical reason for Rossi to use the wheelchair.

Mr Cameron went on to argue there was no evidence that Rossi suffered from any condition, physical or otherwise, which would be a barrier to his extradition.

Rossi was arrested in the UK more than two years ago in connection with the alleged offences in the US.

He was being treated for COVID at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow when he was detained in December 2021.

It has alleged Rossi faked his own death in 2020 and fled from the US to the UK to evade prosecution.

Rossi is due to return to Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday 19 July for a decision on his case.