Overview
- A jury at Isleworth Crown Court found Bernadin Dedic guilty on nine counts, including four counts of rape, after he failed to attend the trial on Tuesday.
- Dedic was mistakenly released from HMP Wormwood Scrubs on February 6 when a court administrator incorrectly recorded that he had been granted bail and that notice was sent to the prison.
- Within hours of his release he travelled on the Eurostar to Bosnia using a Bosnian passport after his UK passport had been seized during the police investigation.
- His lawyers and judges say Dedic gave repeated explanations for not returning, including a skiing injury and a claimed heart attack, but the court pressed ahead and convicted him in his absence.
- HM Courts and Tribunals Service has opened an investigation into the administrative failure and UK authorities have said they are prepared to seek his extradition if he does not return for sentencing.