A convicted rapist, Bernadin Dedic, fled to Bosnia after being mistakenly released from a London prison. Discover the shocking details of his escape and the ongoing manhunt.
In a shocking turn of events, a convicted rapist has fled the UK after being mistakenly released from prison. Bernadin Dedic, 48, was found guilty of multiple counts of rape and sexual assault in his absence, but he remains at large after exploiting a series of administrative errors to escape justice.
The case has raised serious questions about the integrity of the UK’s justice system and the potential consequences of administrative oversight. Dedic’s escape highlights the vulnerabilities in the system and the need for stringent measures to prevent such incidents.
The Horrific Crimes of Bernadin Dedic
Dedic, a businessman living in Ealing, west London, 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 a person with a knife when in a private place, and making a threat to kill.
The attacks occurred at his west London home, shortly after he separated from his partner.
Prosecutor Simon Sanford described the chilling details of the attack. Dedic, who had consumed as much as four bottles of red wine and snorted lines of cocaine, lured the woman to his basement after she had turned down his offer of “no strings attached” sex. Armed with a red-handled oriental kitchen knife, he threatened to kill her and himself if she screamed. The victim was terrified but tried to calm him down.
Dedic slapped the woman in the face and told her to “shut up.” He used the knife to cut off her sports bra and top, then ordered her to remove the rest of her clothing. The court heard that she was terrified and prepared to do whatever he said. The ordeal lasted for several hours, during which Dedic subjected the woman to a series of rapes and sexual assaults.
The Mistaken Release and Escape
In February, Dedic was mistakenly set free from HMP Wormwood Scrubs after a court official wrongly told the prison that he had been granted bail. Within hours, Dedic had left the UK on the Eurostar and returned to his native country of Bosnia. The error occurred when a court official mixed up digital case files and mistakenly recorded that Dedic had been granted bail.
Judge Martin Edmunds KC, the Recorder of Kensington and Chelsea, acknowledged the rarity of such errors but emphasized the seriousness of the situation. “Although such errors are extremely rare, and indeed this is the only instance I am aware of when there has been an erroneous release of a prisoner held in custody to this court, we take this error extremely seriously,” he said. The judge promised a full investigation into how the error occurred and what steps could be taken to prevent it in the future.
After the accidental release was uncovered, HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) launched an investigation. A spokesperson for HMCTS acknowledged the distress such errors can cause and admitted that instances like this have exposed deep-rooted issues across the justice system.
The Ongoing Manhunt and Legal Proceedings
Despite efforts to facilitate Dedic’s return to the UK for a trial in March, he repeatedly failed to show up to court. He made several excuses for not returning to face justice, including claims of a heart attack and a skiing accident. Judge Hannah Duncan, who presided over the case, was “far from convinced” by Dedic’s claims of a heart attack and noted that he had only sought medical help after telling the court that he was suffering from chest pain.
On Tuesday, a jury convicted Dedic on all nine counts in his absence. If he fails to return for the sentencing hearing, UK authorities are expected to commence extradition proceedings to bring him back to serve what is expected to be a lengthy jail term. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and accountability within the justice system.
