CONVICTED RAPIST FLEES TO BOSNIA AFTER WRONGFUL RELEASE FROM WORMWOOD SCRUBS

A jury at Isleworth Crown Court has convicted Bernadin Dedic on all nine counts of rape and sexual assault in his absence. Dedic was remanded in custody after being charged with four counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault by penetration, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, threatening a person with a knife in a private place, and making a threat to kill. In February, a court official wrongly informed HMP Wormwood Scrubs that Dedic had been granted bail, resulting in his release. Within hours of leaving the prison, Dedic had boarded a Eurostar service and travelled to Bosnia, his country of origin.

Dedic, a businessman who lived in Ealing, west London, carried out the attacks at his west London home shortly after separating from his partner. Prosecutor Simon Sanford told the court that Dedic had consumed approximately four bottles of red wine and used cocaine before luring the victim to his basement. He produced a red-handled oriental kitchen knife, told the woman he would kill her and then kill himself, and subjected her to a series of rapes and sexual assaults over several hours. During the trial, Dedic offered multiple reasons for not returning to the United Kingdom, including claims of a heart attack and a skiing accident.

The conviction was returned in Dedic's absence after he remained in Bosnia throughout the proceedings at Isleworth Crown Court. UK authorities are expected to begin extradition proceedings if he does not present himself for his sentencing hearing. The wrongful release resulted from a court official incorrectly communicating bail information to the prison. The case has highlighted the consequences of administrative errors in the custody notification process.