Man attempts to delay divorce with fake death certificate

A man who produced falsified documents in order to delay his divorce hearing is facing prosecution.

John Kolozetski, from West Palm Beach, Florida, is said to have presented Judge Bruce Cardello with a death certificate of a woman who he claimed was the mother of his child, the Associated Press reports.

Mr Kolozetski originally claimed that it was his uncle who had passed away, but the 57-year-old changed his story and then claimed that his grief was such that the divorce proceedings in the Family Division Court, Newport, would have to be delayed.

However, the court noticed that there were two different female names on the death certificate. Prosecutors have argued there is no evidence of him knowing either women, or of having an illegitimate child.

As a result the former New Hampshire resident will appear in Sullivan County court in May charged with falsifying evidence.