Assange faces extradition hearing
Source: Agencies |
February 8, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange asked a British judge yesterday to block his extradition to Sweden on sex crime allegations, arguing he would not get a fair trial and could end up facing execution in the United States.
The Australian computer expert, who released thousands of secret US diplomatic cables on his website, is wanted in Sweden where two WikiLeaks volunteers allege sexual misconduct. Assange denies the allegations.
Assange's lawyer, Geoffrey Robertson, told a court in London that Assange would not be able to get a fair trial in Sweden because rape trials are usually held in private.
"You cannot have a fair trial when the press and the public are excluded from the court ... There is a real risk of flagrant violation of his rights," he said.
In a 74-page court submission, Assange's lawyers argued there is a risk that, if he was extradited to Sweden, the US would seek his "extradition and/or illegal rendition to the USA, where there will be a real risk of him being detained at Guantanamo Bay."
If he was sent to the US, there was a risk he could be "made subject to the death penalty," charged with espionage for publishing the diplomatic cables, the submission stated.
Prosecution lawyer Clare Montgomery said there was no proof that Assange ran the risk of being extradited to the US.
The Australian computer expert, who released thousands of secret US diplomatic cables on his website, is wanted in Sweden where two WikiLeaks volunteers allege sexual misconduct. Assange denies the allegations.
Assange's lawyer, Geoffrey Robertson, told a court in London that Assange would not be able to get a fair trial in Sweden because rape trials are usually held in private.
"You cannot have a fair trial when the press and the public are excluded from the court ... There is a real risk of flagrant violation of his rights," he said.
In a 74-page court submission, Assange's lawyers argued there is a risk that, if he was extradited to Sweden, the US would seek his "extradition and/or illegal rendition to the USA, where there will be a real risk of him being detained at Guantanamo Bay."
If he was sent to the US, there was a risk he could be "made subject to the death penalty," charged with espionage for publishing the diplomatic cables, the submission stated.
Prosecution lawyer Clare Montgomery said there was no proof that Assange ran the risk of being extradited to the US.
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