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Live Updates: Day 11 of WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange's Extradition Hearing

Sputnik International

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is currently facing extradition to the United States to face a number of charges filed under the Espionage Act. A hearing is... 22.09.2020, Sputnik International

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Banners in support of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange are displayed outside a Westminster magistrates court where he was appearing in London, 11 April 2019. - Sputnik International

Live Updates: Day 11 of WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange's Extradition Hearing

09:50 GMT 22.09.2020 (Updated: 15:08 GMT 28.05.2023)

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is currently facing extradition to the United States to face a number of charges filed under the Espionage Act. A hearing is ongoing in London, and Assange is currently being held at Belmarsh prison in the UK capital.

Another day of the extradition hearing of Julian Assange has started at the London Central Criminal Court.

More than 160 prominent politicians from across the globe, including 13 current and former heads of state, have now added their names to an open letter addressed to the UK government calling for the immediate release of the WikiLeaks founder.

The whistleblower has been indicted by the US Department of Justice on 18 charges, mostly regarding violations under the Espionage Act, and is facing extradition from the United Kingdom to the United States. If convicted of these charges, the WikiLeaks founder faces up to 175 years in prison.

Table of contents

12:58 GMT 22.09.2020

It is 'Quite Appalling' to Hear USG Lawyers Trying to Establish that Assange is Making His Clinical Depression up, WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief Kristinn Hrafnsson Says

12:45 GMT 22.09.2020

Assange's Fiancee Not Ruling Out Life in Australia After Trial, Asks for Safety Guarantees

10:19 GMT 22.09.2020

There is ‘a Very High Risk of Suicide’ Should Extradition Occur, Professor Michael Kopelman Says

10:16 GMT 22.09.2020

Medical Experts Are Expected to Testify Over the Next 3 Days

10:09 GMT 22.09.2020

'Next Three Days Will Be Very Difficult for Us', Stella Moris Says

New firstOld first

12:54 GMT 22.09.2020

Kristinn Hrafnsson, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief, explains that he found it "quite appalling" to hear the USG lawyers trying to establish during cross-examination of Prof Koleman, that Mr Assange is "simply making [his clinical depression] up".

via @SputnikInt pic.twitter.com/ureB162NeY
— Mohamed Elmaazi (@MElmaazi) September 22, 2020

“We heard this morning, of course, that Julian has been diagnosed with depression. He is at a high suicide risk, especially if he is extradited to the United States. He has Asperger’s Syndrome that makes him nine times more likely to commit suicide than other persons. All this together should give the court the right picture”, he said.

“He is in severe danger of causing self-harm if he is extradited. In my opinion, it was quite appalling to listen to the lengthy cross-examination by the lawyers for the American government trying to pick apart every small detail citing records constantly, for over an hour, from Belmarsh prison; and the medical staff there, who, obviously, have an interest in keeping the records such that the prison cannot be accused of anything if a prisoner self-harms”, he added.

“And we know that Julian didn’t have full faith and confidence in the medical people in Belmarsh prison for obvious reasons. So, that sort of sums it up. Professor Kopelman will be cross-examined this afternoon. And it is quite extraordinary to hear the questions that are indicative of their willingness to try to establish that Julian Assange is simply making it up, which I think is appalling in all respects. That was what we’ve done this morning”, he concluded.

12:45 GMT 22.09.2020

Stella Moris, the partner of Australian-born WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, told The Sydney Morning Herald that she hopes they could move to Australia if the whistleblower escapes extradition to the United States, and urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to guarantee their family’s safety.

"I'd love to go to Australia, I'd love to live in Australia. I'll live wherever he is safe and that's why I want Australia to tell us that he will be safe there. I want to take my children to Australia and I want Julian to show them Australia", she said.

Australia confirmed last year issuing a new passport for Assange, but Moris believes this was not enough.

"What he has asked for and what I have asked for directly to Scott Morrison is for political intervention, for a political intervention because this is a political case", Moris added.

Moris, a lawyer, was a part of Assange’s legal team that was fighting his extradition to Sweden, before the latter dropped sexual assault charges. During his stay in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, the whistleblower had fathered two children with her. According to Moris, they are going to wed by Christmas outside the Belmarsh prison, where Assange is being held.

10:18 GMT 22.09.2020

Psychiatrist Kopelman has given evidence in many cases for the decades both for the defence and the prosecution.
He found “a very high risk of suicide” should extradition occur. “Suicide risk arises directly from Mr Assange’s psychiatric disorder”
— Mohamed Elmaazi (@MElmaazi) September 22, 2020

Professor Kopelman conducted an old fashion “history” of the patient.

"I should perhaps say that Mr Assange will be very embarrassed about what will be coming out in public" and so reiterates what Ed Fitzgerald said about inviting sensitivity from the press in its reporting.
— Mohamed Elmaazi (@MElmaazi) September 22, 2020

Julian Assange in Serco prison transport van - Sputnik International

Assange is at 'Very High Risk of Suicide' Should Extradition Occur, Neuropsychiatrist Tells Court

22 September 2020, 11:54 GMT

10:15 GMT 22.09.2020

#JulianAssange extradition hearings Part 2 - Day 11 (Thread)

Court is scheduled to sit from 10:00 am.

Medical experts (such as psychiatrists) are expected to testify over the next 3 days.

But we shall see.

via @SputnikInt pic.twitter.com/NeOyqfInsT
— Mohamed Elmaazi (@MElmaazi) September 22, 2020

10:08 GMT 22.09.2020

The next three days will be very difficult for us. The court will hear medical evidence of Julian's physical and mental condition and his likelihood of survival if he is extradited to face 175 years in a US prison.

Please treat Julian with dignity and humanity. #MentalHealth
— Stella Moris (@StellaMoris1) September 22, 2020