RAPIST ON THE RUN ORDERED TO RETURN TO UK
A man wanted for rape in Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently on the run after being mistakenly released from a London prison.A judge has now ordered him to return to the UK to face sentencing.
Bernadin Dedic was convicted in abstentia of raping a woman at knifepoint in his Ealing residence and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, as was communicated to Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday.
The 48-year-old was unexpectedly freed from HMP Wormwood Scrubs on February 6 due to an administrative error involving case file management.
Following his release, he traveled to Bosnia using Eurostar, without returning for his trial scheduled in June.
Since his conviction, Dedic has cited various reasons for avoiding the UK authorities, including visa complications, a skiing accident, health issues, and a fear of flying.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Judge Hannah Duncan instructed that notices be sent to Dedic and his brother informing them of the upcoming court date.
The judge emphasised that Dedic must attend sentencing on July 24 and surrender to custody.
Prosecution lawyer Dickon Reid stated that the Crown Prosecution Service was unable to confirm whether extradition proceedings were underway.
Dedic’s release resulted from a mistake at a February pre-trial hearing at Isleworth Crown Court, where a digital case file confusion led to a message being sent to prison authorities erroneously granting him bail.
Despite police seizing his UK passport during the investigation, he traveled using his Bosnian passport via Eurostar.
Dedic, who pleaded not guilty, was originally scheduled for trial in March.
However, after evading justice through various excuses, a jury convicted him on June 9 of multiple charges, including four counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault by penetration, causing sexual activity without consent, threatening a person with a knife in private, and a threat to kill.
