The WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been denied bail today. Mr Assange’s lawyers lodged the bail application and argued that the current Covid-19 pandemic posed a serious threat to his health as a result of Mr Assange’s pre-existing conditions, one of which is understood to be a lung condition. However, the judge sitting on the case Judge Vanessa Baraitser stated that the global pandemic “does not provide grounds” for Assange’s release.
In addition to this the judge also cited Assange’s “past conduct” in which she was referring to him taking asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy and said this “shows the lengths he is prepared to go to avoid extradition proceedings,”. These quotes were obtained by Marty Silk who was a reporter in the court. A later Tweet said “ Judge Baraister’s full quote. Note her interesting inclusion of the word “yet”. “At matters stand today this global pandemic does not, of itself, yet provide grounds for Mr Assange’s release.” #Assange #WikiLeaks #Covid19UK”.
Lawyers for the US government and the judge have deemed Mr Assange a flight risk, though with most of the world on some form or other of lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s unclear where Mr Assange would have been able to flee to. The Twitter user @kgosztolo posted on Twitter judge “Baraitser not only displayed hostility toward Assange but she also showed contempt toward asylum”.
He has been held at Belmarsh prison since April 2019 when he was forcibly carried out from the Ecuadorian embassy by British police following the removal of his Asylum by a newly installed Ecuadorian administration. Mr Assange’s extradition hearings are scheduled to continue in May and given that no jury is being used there is no reason not for it to proceed as planned.
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Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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