The London extradition hearing for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been postponed because of concerns one of the lawyers involved might have been exposed to COVID-19.
Mr Assange is fighting extradition to the United States where he is wanted for conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law over the release of confidential cables by WikiLeaks in 2010-2011.
Judge Vanessa Baraitser adjourned the case until Monday after being told one of the lawyers representing the United States had been exposed to the virus.WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is facing 175 years in jail in the United States."At the moment we would respectfully submit we have to go ahead on the assumption that she has COVID," Edward Fitzgerald, Mr Assange's lawyer told London's Old Bailey court where the hearings are taking place.
"If that is the correct assumption ... we shouldn't really be here. COVID would be here in the courtroom and it's not possible to tell how far it's extended," he added. The extradition hearings began for a week in February and were due to resume in May, but were then delayed until this week because of the coronavirus lockdown.Mr Assange's lawyers have argued he should be granted bail because he himself is at particular risk from COVID-19 as he has suffered from respiratory infections and has had heart problems.
However, the judge has ordered him to be kept in jail because he is considered a flight risk, having skipped bail and fled to the Ecuadorean embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden where he was wanted at the time to answer questions on alleged sex crimes.Mr Assange spent seven years in the embassy until he was dragged out last year.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'This is nonsense': Julian Assange interjections earn stern warningJudge Vanessa Baraister told Assange that she did not want to hear his case in his absence but that she would be left with no choice if he continued to shout.
Read more »
Julian Assange warned he will be removed from extradition hearings if outbursts continueJulian Assange has been warned by a judge that he will be removed from the courtroom and tried in his absence if he continues to interrupt proceedings.
Read more »
Coronavirus update: Julian Assange's extradition hearing paused due to COVID scareJulian Assange's extradition hearing is adjourned so a lawyer who may have been exposed to COVID-19 can be tested.
Read more »
What's at stake at Julian Assange's extradition hearing?Julian Assange is fighting an attempt by the United States to extradite him to face charges on what it says was 'one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States'.
Read more »
Coronavirus update: Julian Assange's extradition hearing paused due to COVID scareJulian Assange's extradition hearing is adjourned so a lawyer who may have been exposed to COVID-19 can be tested.
Read more »
What's at stake at Julian Assange's extradition hearing?Julian Assange is fighting an attempt by the United States to extradite him to face charges on what it says was 'one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States'.
Read more »