A rapist who threatened his victim with a knife and told her she 'wouldn’t be heard' if she screamed has gone on the run after being accidentally freed from prison. Bernadin Dedic, 48, a businessman from Ealing, west London, was convicted in his absence at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday for a series of attacks in his home.
Dedic had consumed up to four bottles of red wine and cocaine before luring the woman to his basement after she rejected his offer of 'no strings attached' sex. Prosecutor Simon Sandford told the court that Dedic held a red-handled kitchen knife, slapped the woman, cut off her sports bra and top, and ordered her to remove her clothing. The ordeal lasted several hours.
He was charged with four counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault by penetration, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, threatening with a knife, and making a threat to kill. Remanded in custody, he was mistakenly released on February 6 after a court official incorrectly recorded that he had been granted bail. The error was sent to HMP Wormwood Scrubs, which freed him.
Within hours, Dedic used his Bosnian passport to board the Eurostar and return to Bosnia. He offered excuses for not returning, including a heart attack and a skiing accident. The trial proceeded in his absence, and the jury convicted him on all nine counts. If he fails to return for sentencing, UK authorities will seek extradition.
Judge Hannah Duncan, unconvinced by his heart attack claim, noted he sought medical help only after telling the court of chest pain, but tests showed a normal heart rate. 'This is yet another attempt by Mr Dedic to obstruct, manipulate and avoid justice,' she said. Judge Martin Edmunds KC, who had earlier delayed the trial, called the release error 'extremely rare' and promised a full investigation.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service said: 'We understand the distress errors such as this can cause to those affected and instances like this have exposed deep-rooted issues across the broken justice system the Government inherited.'
