Julian Assange’s extradition hearing suspended until ‘at least’ September

Julian Assange’s, the founder of WikiLeaks has had his hearing to decide if his extradition to the US is to go ahead hearing postponed until at least September. This announcement was released by WikiLeaks itself. This was after the case returned today for a brief 20-minute hearing to fix a new date.

The Judge Vanessa Baraitser, who has sat on the case since the beginning, said at today’s procedural hearing on Monday that, after listening to both the prosecution and defence, that a July date was not going to be workable. The reasoning given to this was that some key witnesses would not be available in July. In addition to this there is still no guarantee that US prosecutors will be able to fly to the UK in July due to Covid-19 measures. Mr Assange’s team successfully fought a proposed November date that it felt would be too late. 

Judge Baraitser stated that another court venue would be made available to hold the hearings in September but caveated this with the fact that it would be difficult to arrange. Judge Baraitser said “It’s going to take some negotiation to find a crown court that is open in September, in the current climate, and willing and available to take this hearing”. 

Julian Assange’s lawyer Edward Fitzgerald QC has confirmed that Mr Assange did not attend today’s hearing because he is unwell. The lawyers involved were not present in the courtroom today and instead appeared via video link. In April Mr Assange’s team applied for emergency bail on the basis that it was unsafe for Assange who has a chronic lung condition to be held in prison with Covid-19 spreading in UK jails. Judge Baraitser denied that application. Mr Assange is wanted in America for publishing classified information in 2010. If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to 175 years.

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