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Wikileaks' Julian Assange to be extradited to Sweden | Wikileaks' Julian Assange to be extradited to Sweden |
(40 minutes later) | |
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange should be extradited to Sweden to face sexual assault allegations, a judge has ruled. | Wikileaks founder Julian Assange should be extradited to Sweden to face sexual assault allegations, a judge has ruled. |
At Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in south London, District Judge Howard Riddle said the extradition would not breach Mr Assange's human rights. | At Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in south London, District Judge Howard Riddle said the extradition would not breach Mr Assange's human rights. |
Mr Assange will appeal against the court ruling. He denies three allegations of sexual assault and one of rape last August in Stockholm. | Mr Assange will appeal against the court ruling. He denies three allegations of sexual assault and one of rape last August in Stockholm. |
He believes the claims are politically motivated because of Wikileaks' work. | |
The whistle-blowing website has made headlines worldwide with the publication of sensitive material - including leaked US diplomatic cables - from governments and high-profile organisations. | The whistle-blowing website has made headlines worldwide with the publication of sensitive material - including leaked US diplomatic cables - from governments and high-profile organisations. |
'Public enemy number one' | |
Judge Riddle dismissed the argument that Mr Assange would not receive a fair trial in Sweden that had been made by his lawyers during the two-and-a-half-day hearing earlier this month. | |
They had argued that criticism by Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt had made Mr Assange "public enemy number one" in Sweden. | They had argued that criticism by Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt had made Mr Assange "public enemy number one" in Sweden. |
But delivering his ruling on Thursday, the judge said: "The defence refer to the alleged denigration of the defendant by the Swedish prime minister. | But delivering his ruling on Thursday, the judge said: "The defence refer to the alleged denigration of the defendant by the Swedish prime minister. |
"For this reason and other reasons it is said Mr Assange will not receive a fair trial. I don't accept this was the purpose of the comment or the effect." | "For this reason and other reasons it is said Mr Assange will not receive a fair trial. I don't accept this was the purpose of the comment or the effect." |
Mr Assange's lawyer, Geoffrey Robertson QC, had also argued that rape trials in Sweden were regularly "tried in secret behind closed doors in a flagrant denial of justice". | |
Clare Montgomery QC, for the Swedish authorities, told the hearing that evidence from a trial would be heard in private but the arguments would be made in public. | Clare Montgomery QC, for the Swedish authorities, told the hearing that evidence from a trial would be heard in private but the arguments would be made in public. |
Judge Riddle said that did not mean the trial would be unfair or breach human rights. | |
Death penalty | |
Dismissing further arguments made by Mr Assange's lawyers, the judge found: | |
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Mr Assange was arrested on 7 December and spent nine days in Wandsworth prison in London before being released on bail. | |
During the hearing two weeks ago, Mr Robertson said his client could later be extradited to the US on separate charges relating to Wikileaks - and could face the death penalty there. | |
In response, Ms Montgomery said Sweden provided "protection against that sort of threat and violation" taking place. | |
The European Court of Human Rights would intervene if Mr Assange was to face the prospect of "inhuman or degrading treatment or an unfair trial" in the US, she said. | The European Court of Human Rights would intervene if Mr Assange was to face the prospect of "inhuman or degrading treatment or an unfair trial" in the US, she said. |