A rapist who was mistakenly released from HMP Wormwood Scrubs while awaiting trial for multiple charges of rape claimed he tried to alert prison staff about the error but was still pushed out of the facility. Bernadin Dedic, 48, escaped to Bosnia shortly after the release blunder, following a mix-up in digital case files that led to his unauthorized release.
Despite his attempts to convince prison officials of the mistake, Dedic found himself on a Eurostar out of the UK within hours of his release. He had been arrested in September on suspicion of rape and was supposed to face trial in March before the administrative error led to his premature freedom.
Dedic, who has business interests in the UK, chose not to return for his trial in March, citing various reasons including visa issues and a skiing-related knee injury that prevented him from flying back. Subsequently, a trial held in June found him guilty of multiple charges in his absence, with the defendant expressing no intention of returning to London for sentencing.
The court heard disturbing details of the crime, where Dedic, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, terrorized his victim with a knife before subjecting her to sexual assault. The judge overseeing the case expressed skepticism about Dedic’s claimed health issues and labeled his actions as yet another attempt to evade justice.
Efforts are underway to rectify the errors that led to Dedic’s release, with the Ministry of Justice acknowledging the need for improvements in the release system to prevent similar mistakes in the future. Plans to ensure Dedic’s return to custody are in progress, with a review hearing scheduled for July 7 and sentencing details yet to be determined.