A major prison blunder led to a convicted rapist fleeing the United Kingdom after a horrific, hours-long attack. Bernadin Dedic, 48, is now on the run in Bosnia following a court error that saw him mistakenly freed from HMP Wormwood Scrubs.
The Attack
Dedic, a businessman living in Ealing, west London, carried out the assault after consuming four bottles of red wine and cocaine. He cut off his victim's clothes with a knife and subjected her to multiple rapes and sexual assaults over several hours. The court heard that Dedic held the victim at knifepoint, threatening to kill her and himself if she screamed.
Prison Blunder
In February, Dedic was remanded in custody on charges including four counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault by penetration, and making a threat to kill. However, a court official mistakenly recorded that he had been granted bail, leading to his release. Within hours, Dedic used his Bosnian passport to board the Eurostar and flee to Bosnia.
Attempts to Avoid Justice
Dedic offered various excuses for not returning to face trial, including a knee injury from a skiing accident and a heart attack. Judge Hannah Duncan expressed skepticism, noting that medical tests showed a normal heart rate and that he sought help only after reporting chest pain. The trial proceeded in his absence at Isleworth Crown Court.
Conviction and Extradition
On Tuesday, a jury convicted Dedic on all nine counts. If he fails to return for sentencing, UK authorities are expected to begin extradition proceedings. Prosecutor Simon Sanford detailed the attack, describing how Dedic lured the woman to his basement after she rejected his advances.
Judge Martin Edmunds KC acknowledged the seriousness of the error, stating: "Although such errors are extremely rare, we take this error extremely seriously. We will fully investigate how it occurred and what steps can be put in place to prevent it occurring again." HM Courts and Tribunals Service has launched an investigation into the blunder.
