A convicted rapist who fled the UK after being mistakenly released from prison claims he told guards it was a mistake. Bernadin Dedic, 48, was awaiting trial for allegedly raping a woman at knifepoint when he was wrongly freed from HMP Wormwood Scrubs in February.
Within hours of his release, Dedic took a Eurostar to his home country of Bosnia. Speaking to the Press Association, he said he knew a judge had not granted bail and tried to stay. 'They told me I was released,' he said. 'I said: Let me stay the weekend, this is a mistake. But they pushed me out.'
Mistaken Release
Dedic had been remanded in custody since his arrest in September. An official at Isleworth Crown Court mistakenly mixed up digital case files after a February 6 hearing and wrongly concluded Dedic had been granted bail, transmitting that message to the prison. Dedic's legal team had previously failed to secure bail, even with an £80,000 surety offer and strict conditions.
After his release, Dedic said friends advised him to leave the UK. He returned to Bosnia and did not attend his trial in March, initially citing visa problems. When those were resolved, he claimed a skiing knee injury prevented travel. The trial was rescheduled to June, but Dedic said he suffered chest pains on his way to the airport. The judge proceeded in his absence, and jurors found him guilty of four rape charges, two counts of sexual assault by penetration, and other offenses.
Dedic's Claims and Sentencing
When asked if he plans to return for sentencing, Dedic replied: 'No.' He says he fears prison and cannot fly due to claustrophobia. The trial heard he drank red wine and snorted cocaine before holding the victim at knifepoint, cutting off her clothes, and threatening to kill her and himself. Prosecutor Simon Sandford said the victim was 'terrified and was prepared to do whatever he said.'
Judge Hannah Duncan concluded Dedic was 'far from convinced he has had a heart attack' and said his actions were 'yet another attempt to obstruct, manipulate and avoid justice.'
Government Response
The Ministry of Justice said it is making changes after an independent review by Dame Lynne Owens into accidental prisoner releases. A spokesperson said: 'We fully understand the distress these types of errors will cause and action has already been taken to address errors made in this case. More broadly this Government is investing £82 million to digitise and improve the archaic paper-based release systems we inherited.'
A review hearing is scheduled for July 7, with no sentencing date set yet.
