Assange loses appeal against extradition
Source: Agencies |
November 3, 2011, Thursday
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WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange lost his appeal against extradition to Sweden to answer sex crime allegations, but said yesterday he will now consider whether to take his protracted fight to Britain's highest court.
High Court appeal Judges John Thomas and Duncan Ousely rejected Assange's claims that it would be unfair and unlawful to send him to Scandinavia to be questioned over the alleged rape of one woman and the molestation of another in Stockholm last year.
The 40-year-old has denied wrongdoing, and insists the case is politically motivated by those opposed to the work of his secret-spilling organization.
"We will be considering our next steps in the days ahead," Assange said outside the London court.
Lawyer Mark Summers confirmed that it was not yet clear whether his client would attempt an appeal to Britain's Supreme Court. His legal team has 14 days to decide whether to apply to the High Court, and then must try to persuade judges that there is a point of law to justify an appeal to the highest court.
It means Assange will remain in Britain for at least several more weeks, and could potentially extend his fight against extradition into next year. In a hearing, the appeal judges confirmed that Assange would remain on bail, held under virtual house arrest at a friend's country estate in England.
Legal experts insisted the odds were now stacked against Assange avoiding extradition to Sweden.
"I think it's highly likely that he'll be in Sweden before the end of the year," said Julian Knowles, an extradition lawyer not involved in the case.
It's also not clear whether Assange has the resources to fund a continued legal battle. In a recent dispute over his autobiography - a draft of which was published without his permission - the WikiLeaks founder revealed he'd fallen out with his previous lawyers over the size of his bill and didn't have enough cash to sue his publishers.
In the ruling, appeal judges rejected key arguments from Assange's legal team, saying that Sweden had the right to issue a warrant for Assange.
Assange has said the sexual encounters were consensual and his lawyer Ben Emmerson had previously argued the allegations would not be considered crimes in England.
High Court appeal Judges John Thomas and Duncan Ousely rejected Assange's claims that it would be unfair and unlawful to send him to Scandinavia to be questioned over the alleged rape of one woman and the molestation of another in Stockholm last year.
The 40-year-old has denied wrongdoing, and insists the case is politically motivated by those opposed to the work of his secret-spilling organization.
"We will be considering our next steps in the days ahead," Assange said outside the London court.
Lawyer Mark Summers confirmed that it was not yet clear whether his client would attempt an appeal to Britain's Supreme Court. His legal team has 14 days to decide whether to apply to the High Court, and then must try to persuade judges that there is a point of law to justify an appeal to the highest court.
It means Assange will remain in Britain for at least several more weeks, and could potentially extend his fight against extradition into next year. In a hearing, the appeal judges confirmed that Assange would remain on bail, held under virtual house arrest at a friend's country estate in England.
Legal experts insisted the odds were now stacked against Assange avoiding extradition to Sweden.
"I think it's highly likely that he'll be in Sweden before the end of the year," said Julian Knowles, an extradition lawyer not involved in the case.
It's also not clear whether Assange has the resources to fund a continued legal battle. In a recent dispute over his autobiography - a draft of which was published without his permission - the WikiLeaks founder revealed he'd fallen out with his previous lawyers over the size of his bill and didn't have enough cash to sue his publishers.
In the ruling, appeal judges rejected key arguments from Assange's legal team, saying that Sweden had the right to issue a warrant for Assange.
Assange has said the sexual encounters were consensual and his lawyer Ben Emmerson had previously argued the allegations would not be considered crimes in England.
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