The US Department of Justice last week returned a second superseding indictment against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The indictment dated 24 June 2020 does not contain any additional charges to the 18-count superseding indictment returned last year. It does, however, widen the scope of the alleged conspiracy to include accusations that Mr Assange recruited hackers […]
Lawyers for Julian Assange stated that ill-health was the reason for their client’s failure to attend the latest case management hearing in the ongoing extradition proceedings against him. Mr Assange’s health, according to his spokesperson, has declined in recent weeks and he has lost weight. He is reported to have been transferred to the medical […]
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser on Monday 27 April decided to adjourn extradition proceedings against Julian Assange due to the ongoing restrictions in place in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Mr Assange’s case was due to resume hearings on 18 May 2020 but the Judge said in a hearing held by conference call that it would […]
Lawyers for Julian Assange yesterday made an unsuccessful application to delay the next stage of his extradition hearing, which is scheduled to resume on 18 May 2020. Counsel for Mr Assange, asked the court to adjourn proceedings until September 2020, arguing that the restriction imposed in response to the pandemic had made it ‘wholly impossible’ […]
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser on Wednesday 23 March refused an application by lawyers for Julian Assange that he be remanded on bail as a result of his acute vulnerability to the coronavirus. Edward Fitzgerald QC for Mr Assange appeared alone before District Judge Baraitser at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, with other lawyers attending the proceedings […]
During this week’s four days of legal argument in the Julian Assange extradition case, a number of issues were raised by Mr Assange and his legal team in respect of his treatment and ability to partake effectively in proceedings. On the second morning of the hearing, counsel for Mr Assange, complained that his client had, […]
Much of the legal argument heard by District Judge Baraitser this week at Woolwich Crown Court centred on whether the offences with which Julian Assange is charged amount to ‘political offences’ and if so, what effect that has on the legality of the US extradition request. Counsel for Mr Assange, told the court that the […]
Julian Assange appeared today at Woolwich Crown Court to begin his fight against extradition to the US. Mr Assange is charged with 17 counts of conspiracy, the obtaining and disclosure of national defence information contrary to the Espionage Act 1917, and one further count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion. If convicted, Mr Assange faces […]
Swedish prosecutors announced yesterday, 19 November that they have dropped the investigation into sexual offences allegedly committed by Julian Assange. The Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Eva-Marie Person, cited the weakening of evidence over the protracted investigative period as the reason for the decision. Notwithstanding the decision, Ms Persson made clear in her statement that […]
Julian Assange appeared today with his legal team at a case management hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Lawyers for Mr Assange were seeking a postponement of his extradition hearing in order to gather and submit further evidence. Mark Summers QC, Mr Assange’s barrister, told the court the defence needed three more months to gather evidence […]