'American poisoner' at St. Andrews pleads mentally ill to avoid extradition to Scotland for attempted murder Alexander Hilton is accused of trying to kill fellow American Robert Forbes by poisoning him during a drinking game in 2011 Back in the US, Hilton maintains his innocence but is now trying to avoid extradition to Scotland by claiming he suffers from mental illness and will be denied his American rights in the UK An American man is accused of poisoning and trying to kill another student while studying at Scotland's elite St. Andrews University and is now fighting extradition from the U.S. Alexander Hilton, of Princeton, Massachusetts was partying with some fellow students in March 2011 when Scottish authorities say he gave one of them a bottle of wine laced with methanol, a deadly chemical found in anti-freeze. Dangerous liaison: Alexander Hilton, an American from Massachusetts is accused of trying to poison follow American Robert Forbes (left) while attending Scotland's elite university St. Andrews in 2011 According to court documents, Hilton then urged his victim to drink the entire bottle "all in on go." The student, also American, reportedly did what he was told and in the ensuing days experienced debilitating symptoms of dizziness and balance problems, blurred vision, aching, wheezing, and severe headaches, and even temporary blindness. Hilton was arrested by American authorities last week under the U.S. extradition treaty with the United Kingdom. Nearly too late: Forbes (pictured) reported temporary blindness and other serious symptoms after drinking with Hilton "It's an attempted murder case...and we can't lose sight of that," Assistant U.S. Attorney David D'Addio told the judge in a bail hearing in which Hilton's lawyer argued his client is mentally ill but denied any wrongdoing. Dangerous game: During a drinking game, Scottish authorities claim Hilton urged Forbes to drink an entire bottle of wine laced with deadly methanol Court documents also allege the victim, Robert Forbes of Virginia, would have died from methanol poisoning had he not sought treatment when he did and that now, nearly two years after the incident, Forbes still has not fully recovered his vision. "In the opinion of the treating doctors," runs the complaint, "the high levels of methanol in his blood would have resulted in death had he not received medical attention and treatment." Scottish police reported finding in the course of the investigation an internet search for 'methanol mixed with ethanol' on Hilton's computer and a plastic funnel and measuring jug that Hilton had purchased. Hilton reportedly left Scotland for the U.S. at the urging of St. Andrews authorities shortly after the incident and attended a school in New Mexico for a year. His attorney, Norman Zalkind, says Hilton left the school and returned to his native Massachusetts to live with his parents once he learned Scottish authorities were lodging charges against him. Zalkind says Hilton made this move so that he could turn himself into American authorities in the event of an extradition attempt. Elite: Hilton is accused of trying to poison another student at St Andrew's University in Scotland Possible evidence: A search of Hilton's computer at St. Andrew's revealed a search for 'methanol mixed with ethanol' say investigators Now that extradition is a real possibility and Hilton and his attorney are in the process of fighting it. While arguing for bail on behalf of his client, Zalkind told the judge Hilton has a lifelong history of mental illness and is "going to get sicker and sicker" while he waits behind bars for an extradition hearing. He also argued the extradition itself should be voided because it fails to guarantee Hilton his constitutional rights as an American. According to ABC News, Zalkind said Hilton "functions okay" with the help of therapy and medication when he's at home with his parents. No ruling regarding bail was immediately made by the judge. An extradition hearing is set for March 7.