Assange’s lawyers fear death penalty

Extradition to Sweden may result in transfer to hostile US court, defence team says

JULIAN Assange’s lawyers will argue he faces the threat of the death penalty in the US if he is handed over to Swedish authorities following next month’s extradition hearing.

Mr Assange’s legal team released a skeleton report of their case for the February 7-8 extradition hearing in London following Mr Assange’s brief court appearance today.

In it, Mr Assange’s legal team said it expected the Swedes to “bow to US pressure and/or rely naively on diplomatic assurances from the US that Mr Assange would not be mistreated.”

Swedish prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for Mr Assange following accusations of sexual offences against two women in Sweden during a trip last August.

“It is submitted that there is a real risk that, if extradited to Sweden, the US will seek his extradition and/or illegal rendition to the US, where there will be a real risk of him being detained at Guantanamo Bay or elsewhere,” it said in the report.

“Indeed, if Mr Assange were rendered to the US, without assurances that the death penalty would not be carried out, there is a real risk that he could be made subject to the death penalty.

“It is well-known that prominent figures have implied, if not stated outright, that Mr Assange should be executed.”

Mr Assange earlier cut a relaxed figure during a short hearing lasting just over 10 minutes at Belmarsh Magistrates Court.

Judge Nicholas Evans allowed Mr Assange flexibility on his bail conditions for the eve of next month’s two-day extradition hearing.

Mr Assange was allowed to stay the night at The Frontline Club in central London on the evenings of February 6 and 7.

Dressed in a dark suit, Mr Assange earlier walked into the southeast London courtroom without a soul barely noticing him shortly before the hearing was due to commence.

He was taken aside by court officials before returning to the dock, in a playful mood following nearly four weeks on bail at a mansion in the English countryside.

The divisive figure joked and chatted with supporters in the public gallery and with female court officials, turning to the likes of high profile fans Jemima Khan and Bianca Jagger and playfully pointing to them with both arms outstretched.

Speaking outside court afterwards, Mr Assange said he was “happy about today’s outcome” and vowed that WikiLeaks’s activities would continue.

“I would also like to say that our work with WikiLeaks continues unabated and we are stepping up our publishing for matters relating to ‘cablegate’ and other materials,” he went on.

“This will shortly be occurring through our newspaper partners around the world, big and small newspapers and some human rights organisations.”

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply