jackovesk
24th February 2011, 14:36
http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2011/02/24/1226011/637448-julian-assange.jpgWikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrives at Belmarsh Magistrates' Court before a judge ruled he should face extradite him to Sweden, on grounds of alleged sexual assault Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange will appeal against a British judge's decision to extradite him to Sweden on rape allegations, his lawyer said.
Following days of hearings at a London magistrates court, Judge Howard Riddle ordered that the 39-year-old Australian and WikiLeaks founder be sent to Stockholm to face charges of rape and sexual assault.
"We will be appealing,'' his main lawyer Geoffrey Robertson told the court in southeast London after Justice Riddle handed down his ruling.
Celebrity backers including socialite Jemima Khan and rights campaigner Bianca Jagger were also at the court along with around 100 journalists from around the world.
The silver-haired Australian sat in the dock of the court showing no emotion as Justice Riddle read: "I must order that Mr Assange is extradited to Sweden''.
"I have specifically considered whether the physical or mental condition of the defendant is such that it would be unjust or oppressive to extradite him,'' Justice Riddle said.
"In fact, I am satisfied that extradition is compatible with the defendant's convention rights. I must order that Mr Assange be extradited to Sweden.''
"Clear and specific allegations have been made against Mr Assange in Sweden,'' Justice Riddle said, adding that it was reasonable for authorities to request he be in Stockholm for questioning.
Justice Riddle recounted details of the women's claims: that in one case Assange "deliberately molested the injured party by acting in a manner designed to violate her sexual integrity''.
His actions included holding her arms, forcing apart her legs and putting his body weight on top of her to prevent her movement, later rubbing his erect penis against her naked body.
The allegation involving the second woman is that Assange had unprotected sex with a woman who was sleeping, knowing she would not consent to unprotected sex and constituting rape.
Justice Riddle rejected arguments by Mr Assange's lawyers that the Swedish prosecutor in charge of the investigation was not authorised to order the extradition and had made a mistake.
"Here, there is simply no reason to believe there has been a mistake,'' he said.
"The prosecution has been meticulous and left no stone unturned.''
Justice Riddle said "there is simply no reason to believe there has been a mistake'' in issuing the warrant.
His lawyers questioned Sweden's judicial process and expressed concern their client risks being handed over to the US, which is investigating whether Mr Assange's website should be held responsible for leaking classified information.
Lawyers for Sweden have argued that authorities made repeated attempts to interview Mr Assange while he was in Scandinavia, but to no avail.
The court continues to discuss Mr Assange's bail status.
Since December 14, his conditional bail has required he live at an English country estate and report daily to police.
During three days of hearings held earlier in the month, Mr Assange's legal team argued that the Swedish prosecutor had no power to issue a European arrest warrant and that the allegations did not amount to extradition offences.
Mr Assange's lawyers said he would not face a fair trial as some evidence would be held behind closed doors and that it was possible he would be re-extradited to the United States where he could face the death penalty.
Justice Riddle, however, said that the warrant was valid and said he had to uphold the "mutual respect and confidence this court has in our European counterparts.''
Mr Assange was arrested in Britain on December 7 on an international warrant issued by a Swedish prosecutor who wanted to question him over four separate allegations of sexual assault made by the two women.
He was held in London's Wandsworth prison for nine days until he was released on bail.
He has since been staying at a friend's country mansion in eastern England under strict conditions including that he obey a curfew, wear an electronic ankle tag and report to police daily.
The judge relaxed his conditions for today's hearing to allow him to spend the previous night at the Frontline media club in London.
Mr Assange claimed his greatest fear was eventual extradition to the United States, where his lawyers argued he could be sent to the Guantanamo Bay detention facility or face the death penalty.
Australia has asked the Swedish government to ensure that Assange receives a fair trial if he is ordered to go before a Swedish court, according to government documents obtained by AFP earlier this month.
Mr Assange rocked the world's diplomatic institutions and infuriated Washington last year when WikiLeaks began releasing more than 250,000 secret diplomatic cables sent by US embassy staff.
It has also published sensitive data on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr Assange also recently said his site was "significantly influential'' in the fall of Tunisian leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, an event he said "no doubt'' sparked uprisings across the Middle East.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/wikileaks/julian-assange-faces-extradition-to-sweden-will-appeal-judgement/story-fn775xjq-1226011633485
WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange will appeal against a British judge's decision to extradite him to Sweden on rape allegations, his lawyer said.
Following days of hearings at a London magistrates court, Judge Howard Riddle ordered that the 39-year-old Australian and WikiLeaks founder be sent to Stockholm to face charges of rape and sexual assault.
"We will be appealing,'' his main lawyer Geoffrey Robertson told the court in southeast London after Justice Riddle handed down his ruling.
Celebrity backers including socialite Jemima Khan and rights campaigner Bianca Jagger were also at the court along with around 100 journalists from around the world.
The silver-haired Australian sat in the dock of the court showing no emotion as Justice Riddle read: "I must order that Mr Assange is extradited to Sweden''.
"I have specifically considered whether the physical or mental condition of the defendant is such that it would be unjust or oppressive to extradite him,'' Justice Riddle said.
"In fact, I am satisfied that extradition is compatible with the defendant's convention rights. I must order that Mr Assange be extradited to Sweden.''
"Clear and specific allegations have been made against Mr Assange in Sweden,'' Justice Riddle said, adding that it was reasonable for authorities to request he be in Stockholm for questioning.
Justice Riddle recounted details of the women's claims: that in one case Assange "deliberately molested the injured party by acting in a manner designed to violate her sexual integrity''.
His actions included holding her arms, forcing apart her legs and putting his body weight on top of her to prevent her movement, later rubbing his erect penis against her naked body.
The allegation involving the second woman is that Assange had unprotected sex with a woman who was sleeping, knowing she would not consent to unprotected sex and constituting rape.
Justice Riddle rejected arguments by Mr Assange's lawyers that the Swedish prosecutor in charge of the investigation was not authorised to order the extradition and had made a mistake.
"Here, there is simply no reason to believe there has been a mistake,'' he said.
"The prosecution has been meticulous and left no stone unturned.''
Justice Riddle said "there is simply no reason to believe there has been a mistake'' in issuing the warrant.
His lawyers questioned Sweden's judicial process and expressed concern their client risks being handed over to the US, which is investigating whether Mr Assange's website should be held responsible for leaking classified information.
Lawyers for Sweden have argued that authorities made repeated attempts to interview Mr Assange while he was in Scandinavia, but to no avail.
The court continues to discuss Mr Assange's bail status.
Since December 14, his conditional bail has required he live at an English country estate and report daily to police.
During three days of hearings held earlier in the month, Mr Assange's legal team argued that the Swedish prosecutor had no power to issue a European arrest warrant and that the allegations did not amount to extradition offences.
Mr Assange's lawyers said he would not face a fair trial as some evidence would be held behind closed doors and that it was possible he would be re-extradited to the United States where he could face the death penalty.
Justice Riddle, however, said that the warrant was valid and said he had to uphold the "mutual respect and confidence this court has in our European counterparts.''
Mr Assange was arrested in Britain on December 7 on an international warrant issued by a Swedish prosecutor who wanted to question him over four separate allegations of sexual assault made by the two women.
He was held in London's Wandsworth prison for nine days until he was released on bail.
He has since been staying at a friend's country mansion in eastern England under strict conditions including that he obey a curfew, wear an electronic ankle tag and report to police daily.
The judge relaxed his conditions for today's hearing to allow him to spend the previous night at the Frontline media club in London.
Mr Assange claimed his greatest fear was eventual extradition to the United States, where his lawyers argued he could be sent to the Guantanamo Bay detention facility or face the death penalty.
Australia has asked the Swedish government to ensure that Assange receives a fair trial if he is ordered to go before a Swedish court, according to government documents obtained by AFP earlier this month.
Mr Assange rocked the world's diplomatic institutions and infuriated Washington last year when WikiLeaks began releasing more than 250,000 secret diplomatic cables sent by US embassy staff.
It has also published sensitive data on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr Assange also recently said his site was "significantly influential'' in the fall of Tunisian leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, an event he said "no doubt'' sparked uprisings across the Middle East.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/wikileaks/julian-assange-faces-extradition-to-sweden-will-appeal-judgement/story-fn775xjq-1226011633485