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Banned
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has lost his challenge against extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault.
The 39-year-old Australian computer expert, who has infuriated the US government by releasing thousands of secret diplomatic cables on his website, is wanted in relation to claims made by two WikiLeaks volunteers last August.
One alleges Mr Assange sexually ******** her by ignoring her request for him to use a condom during sex.
The second woman has said Mr Assange had sex with her while she was ****** and that he was not wearing a condom.
Mr Assange has repeatedly denied the charges, calling them politically motivated because of WikiLeaks's activities in releasing classified US cables.
He previously claimed that a "black box" of accusations against him was being opened to inspection and that the claims of his alleged victims were "empty".
During three days of legal argument earlier this month, lawyers for Mr Assange argued he would not get a fair trial in Sweden and said Swedish prosecutors had mishandled the case.
They argued that he might wind up being sent to the United States where he could face execution.
But Judge Howard Riddle, at the Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in south-east London, dismissed the arguments.
"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," he told the court.
"I am satisfied that extradition is compatible with the defendant's (European) Convention rights, I must order Mr Assange be extradited to Sweden."
He has ruled that at least one of the allegations made against Mr Assange was tantamount to ****.
Mr Assange has been living under virtual house arrest in a Norfolk country house north-east of London.
The US government is examining whether criminal charges can be brought against him over the diplomatic cables.
Mr Assange has said he would like to return to Australia but accused the Federal Government of having worked against him.
Assange to appeal
Mark Stephens, a lawyer for Assange, said the case showed that extraditions under the fast-track European arrest warrant were a form of "tick-box justice".
"We are still hopeful that the matter will be resolved in this country. We still remain very optimistic about our opportunities on appeal," he told reporters outside court.
Mr Assange's main lawyer Geoffrey Robertson says he will appeal against the decision, which will likely postpone Mr Assange's ultimate fate for many months.
The appeal process at London's High Court must begin within 40 days, although the court can extend this period in the "interests of justice".
Should the High Court uphold the extradition decision, a further appeal can be made to Britain's Supreme Court, the country's highest judicial body, but this can only be done on a point of law considered to be of general public interest.
The Supreme Court ruling is the end of the process.
If at any stage in the process the extradition is confirmed and there is no outstanding appeal, then Mr Assange must be extradited within 10 days.
Mr Robertson said there were some difficulties if bail were to be continued in its current form, including the electronic bracelet that his client is required to wear to monitor his whereabouts.
"You know what the problem is: that it does restrict his exercise. He can't run, for example," Mr Robertson told the court.
Without having made a formal decision on bail, Judge Riddle said the current measures were necessary.
"There is a need for the authorities to know where somebody is on a daily basis," he said.
'David and Goliath'
Mr Assange's ****** says her ***'s ordered extradition to Sweden smacks of a "David and Goliath" situation.
Christine Assange says her *** has been abandoned by the Australian Government and left to operate under a flawed legal process.
"It's a real David and Goliath situation," she said.
"You've got misuse of the European arrest warrant, first time ever that it's been used this way.
"I would say that what we're looking at here is political and legal gang **** of my ***.
"What Julian through his site is proving [is] the need for WikiLeaks."
She called on Australians to lobby their local MPs to stand up against what she described as an ***** of process.
"I'm, obviously, scared for him as a ****** but the world ought to be scared for its democracies," she said.
"The greatest fear I have is that the Western world, in its effort to shut up someone who's telling the truth to the people of their countries, will breach every piece of legislation in order to get him and will co-operate across borders to do so."
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The 39-year-old Australian computer expert, who has infuriated the US government by releasing thousands of secret diplomatic cables on his website, is wanted in relation to claims made by two WikiLeaks volunteers last August.
One alleges Mr Assange sexually ******** her by ignoring her request for him to use a condom during sex.
The second woman has said Mr Assange had sex with her while she was ****** and that he was not wearing a condom.
Mr Assange has repeatedly denied the charges, calling them politically motivated because of WikiLeaks's activities in releasing classified US cables.
He previously claimed that a "black box" of accusations against him was being opened to inspection and that the claims of his alleged victims were "empty".
During three days of legal argument earlier this month, lawyers for Mr Assange argued he would not get a fair trial in Sweden and said Swedish prosecutors had mishandled the case.
They argued that he might wind up being sent to the United States where he could face execution.
But Judge Howard Riddle, at the Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in south-east London, dismissed the arguments.
"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," he told the court.
"I am satisfied that extradition is compatible with the defendant's (European) Convention rights, I must order Mr Assange be extradited to Sweden."
He has ruled that at least one of the allegations made against Mr Assange was tantamount to ****.
Mr Assange has been living under virtual house arrest in a Norfolk country house north-east of London.
The US government is examining whether criminal charges can be brought against him over the diplomatic cables.
Mr Assange has said he would like to return to Australia but accused the Federal Government of having worked against him.
Assange to appeal
Mark Stephens, a lawyer for Assange, said the case showed that extraditions under the fast-track European arrest warrant were a form of "tick-box justice".
"We are still hopeful that the matter will be resolved in this country. We still remain very optimistic about our opportunities on appeal," he told reporters outside court.
Mr Assange's main lawyer Geoffrey Robertson says he will appeal against the decision, which will likely postpone Mr Assange's ultimate fate for many months.
The appeal process at London's High Court must begin within 40 days, although the court can extend this period in the "interests of justice".
Should the High Court uphold the extradition decision, a further appeal can be made to Britain's Supreme Court, the country's highest judicial body, but this can only be done on a point of law considered to be of general public interest.
The Supreme Court ruling is the end of the process.
If at any stage in the process the extradition is confirmed and there is no outstanding appeal, then Mr Assange must be extradited within 10 days.
Mr Robertson said there were some difficulties if bail were to be continued in its current form, including the electronic bracelet that his client is required to wear to monitor his whereabouts.
"You know what the problem is: that it does restrict his exercise. He can't run, for example," Mr Robertson told the court.
Without having made a formal decision on bail, Judge Riddle said the current measures were necessary.
"There is a need for the authorities to know where somebody is on a daily basis," he said.
'David and Goliath'
Mr Assange's ****** says her ***'s ordered extradition to Sweden smacks of a "David and Goliath" situation.
Christine Assange says her *** has been abandoned by the Australian Government and left to operate under a flawed legal process.
"It's a real David and Goliath situation," she said.
"You've got misuse of the European arrest warrant, first time ever that it's been used this way.
"I would say that what we're looking at here is political and legal gang **** of my ***.
"What Julian through his site is proving [is] the need for WikiLeaks."
She called on Australians to lobby their local MPs to stand up against what she described as an ***** of process.
"I'm, obviously, scared for him as a ****** but the world ought to be scared for its democracies," she said.
"The greatest fear I have is that the Western world, in its effort to shut up someone who's telling the truth to the people of their countries, will breach every piece of legislation in order to get him and will co-operate across borders to do so."
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